Today it is impossible to imagine your life without a mirror. Almost every girl has a mirror in her purse, not to mention apartments where you can definitely find a reflective surface. In ancient times, people were ambivalent about mirrors. Some admired their reflection, while others considered them the machinations of the devil.
Mirrors of ancient peoples. | Photo: soldierweapons.ru.
Modern mirrors are made of glass coated with a reflective substance. In ancient times, any reflecting surface played the role of a mirror. One of the earliest artificial specimens was mirrors made from obsidian, a volcanic rock. They were processed into a circle. Some of the found similar mirrors are more than 6,000 years old.
Mirrors found in what is now Mexico. | Photo: latinamericanhistory.oxfordre.com.
In ancient civilizations, polished metal plates were used as mirrors. The process of making them was quite laborious, so only very wealthy people could afford to admire their reflection in the shiny surface.
Seated woman holding a mirror. Ancient Greek Lecythian, circa 470-460 BC. | Photo: en.wikipedia.org.
In the early Middle Ages, mirrors practically disappeared from use. The priests forbade people to use them. It was believed that on the other side of the reflective surface is the devil, which can affect the mind of people. Only in the XIII-XIV centuries did mirrors reappear in Europe. Master glaziers poured hot tin into glass vessels, which were then broken into separate pieces. This is how mirrors were made.
Gilded mirror of the 18th century. | Photo: en.wikipedia.org.
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In 1407, the Venetian brothers Danzalo del Gallo created a special reflective mixture with the addition of bronze and gold. Due to this, all objects reflected in the mirrors flickered, appearing more beautiful than they really are. For almost a century and a half, Venice held a monopoly on the production of mirrors, hiding the secret of their manufacture. The cost of one Venetian mirror in those days could be compared with the price of an entire ship.
The mirror has firmly entered the culture of many peoples as an object with magical properties. | Photo: monateka.com.
In Russia in 1666 the Orthodox Church split. Among the innovations of Patriarch Nikon was the ban on the use of mirrors by clergy. Many superstitions associated with them have come down since those times. It is still believed that a broken mirror will bring bad luck. And if someone died in the house, then it is necessary to curtain all the reflective surfaces so that the soul does not get lost in the other world.
Mirror of Venus. Edward Burne-Jones, 1866-1877 | Photo: gallerix.ru.