817. Lanterns

John 18:3  •  1 min. read  •  grade level: 8
Listen from:
John 18:3. Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.
There are several varieties of lanterns in use in Palestine at the present day. One of these commonly used is made of waxed linen, or even of paper, stretched over rings of wire, and having a top and bottom of tinned copper. When folded the candle projects above the top of the folds, so that the lantern may, in the house, serve the purpose of a candlestick. This style of lantern is of ancient use. Transparent horn lanterns were also used; and bladder was sometimes substituted for horn.
The lanterns used by the officers on the occasion of the arrest of Jesus were doubtless of some strong serviceable material, perhaps of horn. The dark lantern was sometimes used by civil and military officers. It was square, with a white skin on one side and black skins on the three other sides. See Smith's Dictionary of Antiquities, s. v. Laterna.