Talk:Dies atri (Nova Roma)
"...in which fire should not be lit... " Does this mean that new fire should not be struck from a flint but we can continue to use old fire that had previously been kindled? Agricola 14:14, 12 December 2006 (CET)
Scaurus answered on the RR list:
Immolated offerings of any kind are prohibited on dies atri, i.e., incense or food or floral offerings which are burnt or libations which are poured onto fire of any sort. Libations, and food or floral offerings which are not burnt or poured onto fire are acceptable. One's lararium caerimonia should be altered to account for this.
Fire may not be directly kindled on dies atri. The use of flint,
matches, lighters (including electrical lighters), or other means of
directly kindling flame should be avoided and fire previously kindled
flame used. Those who cook with gas should check whether burners
ignite from a constant pilot flame (which is permissible) or from an
electrical lighter (which is not permissible). If a gas stove
normally lights from an internal electrical lighter, the lighter
should be unplugged and burners or oven ignited with a punt taken from
a preexisting source of flame (an oil lamp or candle). Electric
stoves do not directly kindle flame, so no special precautions need be
taken. Ideally gas furnaces and hot water heaters should be treated
on the same principle, but owing to the difficulty and expense of
replacing such systems with compliant ones in the homes of
practitioners, it is my opinion that a piaculum for kindling fire on
dies atri with such devices if they do not operate from a constant
pilot flame should be made. Obviously things like electric lighting
are not affected since they do not directly kindle flame.
