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ACAPNA sc. ligna (ξύλα ἄκαπνα), firewood specially prepared in order to burn without smoke. Owing to the primitive simplicity of ancient chimneys, smokeless fuel was in great request. At least three different processes are mentioned in ancient writers. 1. The wood might be simply dried and scorched over a fire, without however being converted into charcoal; these were also called ligna cocta, Dig. 32, 55, 7, and coctilia, Trebell. Claud. 14. 2. After peeling off the bark, it might be soaked in water and then well dried before being used (Theophr. Hist. Plant. 15.10). 3. It might be smeared with oil-lees (amurca), and afterwards exposed to the sun (Cato, Cat. Agr. 130; Plin. Nat. 15.33). In Martial, Mart. 13.15, the lemma has ligna acapna, but the epigram itself throws no light on the mode of preparation. ACAPNON MEL, honey taken from the hive without smoking the bees, which was preferred, as usually there was a slight taste of smoke. (Col. 6.33.2; Plin. Nat. 11.45.)
Dictionary of Greek and Roman Antiquities
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