(Untitled)

[my_cnnr]

This is Alexander related only by a very generous stretch of the comm guidelines, but the following question was asked over at maryrenaultfics, and there are more experts here than anywhere else I can think of, so having a go:

Black Gold and Lamp Oil
Very early in chapter 17 ( of The Persian Boy) there is an anecdote about a finding crude oil spring. The seer

Comments

[the_epic]

Probably Caster Oil.

[my_cnnr]

Thanks...and *blech*!

Taking it back to the comm.

[the_epic]

The Egyptians used caster oil for a long time, but as the poster below says...it could also be olive oil, hadn't thought about that.

[artaxastra]

Olive oil was used in lamps, and still can be. It burns with a nice clean even flame, though today it's rather expensive to use for that.

[my_cnnr]

That sounds much nicer than caster oil. ;) Thanks for the info!

[fawatson]

I agree with My Cnnr - much nicer. I doubt very much they used the fine grade oil for lamps and the high price of olive oil these days is more about EU regulations and marketing boards than the cost of producing the stuff (which I've been told is actually very cheap and easy).

It's a fragment of Aristobulus from Strabo & Arrian

[taphoi]

Normally the Greeks used olive oil for lamps. Renault is getting her Oxus story from a fragment of Aristobulus preserved in Arrian, Anabasis 4.15.7-8

Re: It's a fragment of Aristobulus from Strabo & Arrian

[my_cnnr]

How nice to hear from you! Thanks for the great cite - will take it back to the OP.

Re: It's a fragment of Aristobulus from Strabo & Arrian

[fawatson]

Thank you so very much for this wonderful reference.