brazier

Ancient Greek brazier and casserole, 6th/4th century BC, exhibited in the Ancient Agora Museum in Athens, housed in the Stoa of Attalus

Simple Brazier

Brazier used for lighting the Paschal candle during Easter Vigil.

A brazier is a container for fire, generally taking the form of an upright standing or hanging metal bowl or box. Used for holding burning coal as well as fires, a brazier allows for a source of light, heat, or cooking. Braziers have been reported in many early archaeological excavations, for example the Nimrud brazier recently recovered by the Iraqi National Museum dating back to at least 824 BCE.[1]

Braziers are mentioned in the Bible. The Hebrew word rendered “brazier” (´ach) is of Egyptian origin, suggesting that the brazier itself was an innovation from Egypt. It appears that in the better homes the brazier was preferred to a depression in the floor of the house, in which a fire could be built. King Jehoiakim had a brazier, probably one made of metal, in his winter house (Jer 36:22,23). At some churches, a brazier is used to create a small fire, called new fire, which is then used to light the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil. It is also said by Fernando de Alva Cortés Ixtlilxochitl that the Tepanec Tlatoani (Basically a king but literally meaning "Great Speaker") Tezozomoc, slept between two Braziers because he was so old he produced no natural heat. The Roman Emperor Jovian in 364 AD was poisoned by a brazier in his tent, ending the line of Constantine.

Despite the risks associated with burning charcoal on open fires, braziers used to be considered healthier than fireplaces and chimneys throughout the Spanish-speaking world ^[1][2], and continued to be one of the primary means of heating houses in Spain until the 20th century. Gerald Brenan^[3] described the widespread habit in Spain in the 1920’s of placing a brazier beneath a cloth-covered table to keep the legs and feet of the family warm on winter evenings. Aromatics (lavender seeds, orange peel) were sometimes added to the ashes in the brazier to dispel the charcoal fumes^[4].

Braziers are a common place sight on picket lines. Although in the UK in recent years as strikes have moved from a blue collar to white collar occupation they are being seen less and less.^[5]

Rose and grapevine trimmings make very good charcoal for braziers and when burned moist give out even greater aroma.

Evidence of the inhalation of cannabis smoke can be found in the 3rd millennium B.C, as indicated by charred cannabis seeds found in a ritual brazier at an ancient burial site in present day Romania^{[citation needed]}.

In Japanese, a brazier is called a hibachi, and is used in some circumstances, such as the Japanese tea ceremony.

See also

• Angithi, a traditional Indian brazier

Look up brazier in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Braziers (containers)

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