“Those ancient sages, who sought to secure the presence of divine beings
by the erection of shrines and statues, showed insight into the nature
of the All; they perceived that , though this Soul is everywhere tractable, its presence will be secured all the more readily when an appropriate receptacle is elaborated, a place especially capable of receiving some portion or phase of it, something reproducing it, or representing it and serving like a mirror to catch an image of it.”
(IV.3.11, Plotinus 1991, 264)
Many works of supposed fiction contain esoteric secrets, visionary prophecy or refer to unrevealed technologies. For example, in Firdausi's epic poem, the Shahnameh ("Book of Kings"), there appears a cup which mirrors the world and remote activities. It belongs to King Kai Khosrau and figures in the love story of Bizhan and Manizha.
“Then shall my pious prayers rise to Urmuzd
Prayers that our God commandeth. Then will I
Call for the cup that mirroreth the world,
And stand before God's presence. In that cup
I shall behold the seven climes of earth,
Both field and fell and all the provinces,
Will offer reverence to mine ancestors,
My chosen, gracious lords, and thou shalt know
Where thy son is. The cup will show me all."
—The Shahnama of Firdausi: Volume III
Televisual mirrors are often referenced in the oldest visionary works of “science fiction”. Lucian, in his True History, attests that in the palace of Endymion, king of the moon, he saw a large mirror which allowed him to hear whatever was said on the terrestrial plane; and in contemplating the depths of it, one saw all nations as though in their midst.
“I observed still another wonder on the Moon in the palace of King Endymion. There is an enormous mirror there positioned over a well of no great depth. Now, if you were to go down into this well, you could hear all that was being said on the Earth below. And, if you look up to the mirror, you can see all the cities and peoples of the world, just as if you were standing right there. When I looked up, I could see my friends and relatives and all my native land. But I cannot say for certain if they could see me too. If anyone does not believe what I say, he will know that what I am saying is true if ever he travels to these regions himself.”
Zosimus, an alchemist who resided in Egypt during the third and fourth centuries A.D., discusses mentions a magic mirror made of electrum which Alexander the Great used to see the future in the all-permeating perfect spirit, allowing one to parse out and correct the mismatch with the Divine Image. This alchemical device was subsequently exhibited in the Temple of the Seven Gates (corresponding to the seven heavens) above all spheres.
In the famous letter of Prester John purporting to have been written by him to the Byzantine emperor, Manuel (1143-80), a marvelous mirror is described. The machine was reached by ascending a hundred and twenty-five steps over an elaborate structure of pillars, probably some kind of security measure. In this mirror all plots and conspiracies and all visible information arising from the adjacent provinces would be recognized by Prester John.