Abstract: A portable lantern comprising a housing having a transparent lens section, an electric light source mounted within said housing, reflector means rotatably mounted within the transparent section of said housing and disposed to project light emitted by said electric light through the transparent section of said housing in a substantially horizontal beam of increased intensity, means for continuously rotating said reflector means at a speed so that a light beam is projected thereby in a circular pattern through said transparent section at a frequency which produces the effect of continuous illumination, and battery power means for energizing said electric light source and reflector rotating means arranged within said housing, said portable lantern being suitable for providing substantially continuous illumination over a large area.