10-05-2009, 04:57 AM
As far as mirrors, I would just say that if they weren't reasonably smoothly polished, they wouldn't be, well, mirrors.
From what I've read, mirrors weren't really what we'd call "good" until they figured out how to apply silvering to the backside of glass, and that's a very recent invention. Making an extremely flat surfaced glass is required to prevent distortion, too.
I suspect the mirrors of the ancients were not nearly as smooth, clear of image, and reflective as the cheapest ones we have today. And odds are they were pretty expensive. Poor saps like me would have to look into a bowl of clear water to get a decent reflection.
From what I've read, mirrors weren't really what we'd call "good" until they figured out how to apply silvering to the backside of glass, and that's a very recent invention. Making an extremely flat surfaced glass is required to prevent distortion, too.
I suspect the mirrors of the ancients were not nearly as smooth, clear of image, and reflective as the cheapest ones we have today. And odds are they were pretty expensive. Poor saps like me would have to look into a bowl of clear water to get a decent reflection.
M. Demetrius Abicio
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
(David Wills)
Saepe veritas est dura.
