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Posted by DopeyFrances (U6235658) on Sunday, 22nd October 2006
When I think how dark it is inside the tombs of the Pharoes, I wonder how they managed to see to do all the beautiful paintings. It has been pointed out that if they had used torches there would have been a lot of smoke, but there is none.
Does anyone have any thoughts on this?
Using mirrors to direct sunlight down the coridors is one explanation I have heard.
Yes, I have heard that. They were brass mirrors or something.
they had them in the mummy... but it seems the most logical explaination. Candles just would not work and obviously theres no visible holes for smoke to go out of, if they did use fires to see
The craftsmen used small shallow clay "bowls" with between 1 and 6 wicks depending on what light they needed. The oil used was a mixture (which I forget) that did not give off smoke. These burners were designed to burn for 4 hours after which the artist went on his break and then used new burners for the next 4 hours. I will look up what the oil was when I get home from work
There have been pots found whose apparent purpose was for use as a battery. It would seem unlikely thay had electric light and the technology was lost but not impossible.
The ancient 'batteries' (assuming that's what they were) are all from Iraq, though, are they not? They wouldn't have been powerful enough for lighting, anyway - replicas have been used for electroplating; another theory is that they were used electrify statues of gods to make worshippers think the statues has magic powers.
Lemon juice, heat and sand??
Yes a very interesting combination that came from knowledge much older.
The Egyptians never quite saw the significance and probably only used it as a party trick. A small electric shock at the Pharoah's party and a giggle for all.
If you burn Olive oil in small lamps, the 'footprint' left on the ceiling of large tombs is insignificant, but it's there, and detected with our 'modern' excavation techniques.
It's an unfortunate fact, but there is no real mystery.
It was small groups of highly professional people/artists, working in small areas, to already 'paint by numbers' outlines on prepared surfaces.
But it was worth the effort, or we wouldn't be talking about it now.
Dan
Baron P
Copper and iron, possibly in grape juice, in fact.
Grape juice?
The Vineyards of ancient Egypt must have been a sight to behold......or did they trade further than is comfortable to modern historians??
No. Point taken AN. I'm not a scientist, and I don't understand how pots of sand with certain acids produce electricity. If I did, I'd be a Billionaire by now!! Imagine that....Africa could be the lifeblood of the modern world. How ironic.
I think you've just given me something to do during my weeks leave, rather than just waste time.....
Baron P
Dan
Actually in creating DC electric light it's not the power source that's the problem, but making the light bulb. Even if you used carbon from some vegetable fibre for a filament you still neeed to seal it under vacuum in a blown glass vessel. The Egyptian's were mighty clever but not that clever!
TP
, in reply to message 11.
Posted by an ex-nordmann - it has ceased to exist (U3472955) on Sunday, 29th October 2006
Bottled glow worms.
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