Re: ancient magnification optics?

From: Kendall Davies (kendall_at_kendallsmail.plus.com)
Date: 10/26/04 

Date: Tue, 26 Oct 2004 02:42:09 GMT

Lenses have been known and used for over 2000 years.

see: http://www.history-people.co.uk/glasses.html

regards - Kendall

"bugbear" <bugbear@trim_papermule_trim.co.uk> wrote in message
news:3g5qn096vnqaqukp5j477jk7adb19r17uv@4ax.com...
>I have been repeatedly impressed
> by the beautiful, and tiny, detail in some ancient
> artefacts, especially seals and coins.
>
> These are commonly examined using at least 10x loupes,
> to see and appreciate the detail.
>
> Indeed, museums often display them under
> magnification.
>
> My question; did the people who *created*
> these things have amazingly good eye sight,
> or did they use some kind of optical
> magnification?
>
> A related question: when is the earliest documented/recorded
> magnifying glass (or similar)
>
> BugBear