The history of sunglasses

The history of sunglasses can be traced back to ancient times. The original predecessors of modern eyeglasses were made of precious and semi-precious stones, bark, fabrics and other materials that today hardly replace the usual lenses. The first eye protection device was found in Tutankhamun's tomb. It is made from two very thin emerald cuts joined by bronze plates. It is believed that the glasses could be worn not only by the pharaohs of ancient Egypt, but also by other privileged members of society, as similar inventions have been found in other tombs.

In ancient Rome, emeralds were used as lenses. The Roman Emperor Nero used the polished stone as a Lognette to watch gladiators fight. It's hard to answer definitively what he did. For example, some historians associate it with the magical properties of jadeite, which was given to the stone in ancient times. According to the thinking at the time, emeralds made the cruelty he saw possible. However, most skeptics still tend to believe the more practical version: Nero uses this lorgnette to make it easier to see what's going on in the arena on a sunny day.

"Sunglasses" were also used in ancient China. The judges wore them, though not walking the streets and alleys on a clear day, but hid their eyes during trials, thus making it difficult for those around them to understand their emotions.

There was also a spectacle made of fabric, bark, wood and later metal. They are a bandage that completely covers the eye, but has a horizontal slit in the middle. The glasses greatly narrow the field of view, but in bright sunlight, they can work in a calm environment surrounded by white light that is clouded by snow.