11-14-2003, 02:38 AM
Hi all,<br>
I think that the critical factor is the local availability of olive oil. If you have to import it, it will be expensive; the farther the oil source, the more expensive will it be.<br>
Here, in the Basque country (the same in the rest of northern Spain), we're only slightly above the cultivation limit of olive trees and the number of fragments of clay oil lamps decrease dramatically to the north of that line. We could say that it is limited to the few urban centres, like it happens in Britain !<br>
Well, it is clear that a long distance by sea was cheaper than even a short one by road.<br>
<br>
There were, at least in late times other kind of oil lamps, made of glass. They hanged from the ceiling suspended by chains. Some luxury ones were elaborately weel-cut or even weel-carved (the so-called 'diatreta')<br>
<br>
Aitor<br>
<p></p><i></i>
I think that the critical factor is the local availability of olive oil. If you have to import it, it will be expensive; the farther the oil source, the more expensive will it be.<br>
Here, in the Basque country (the same in the rest of northern Spain), we're only slightly above the cultivation limit of olive trees and the number of fragments of clay oil lamps decrease dramatically to the north of that line. We could say that it is limited to the few urban centres, like it happens in Britain !<br>
Well, it is clear that a long distance by sea was cheaper than even a short one by road.<br>
<br>
There were, at least in late times other kind of oil lamps, made of glass. They hanged from the ceiling suspended by chains. Some luxury ones were elaborately weel-cut or even weel-carved (the so-called 'diatreta')<br>
<br>
Aitor<br>
<p></p><i></i>
It\'s all an accident, an accident of hands. Mine, others, all without mind, from one extreme to another, but neither works nor will ever.
Rolf Steiner
Rolf Steiner
