Duplication of unique optical effects of ancient Egyptian lenses from the IV/V Dynasties: lenses fabricated ca 2620-2400 BC or roughly 4600 years ago

Ancient (in fact, first known) lenses (ca. 4600 years ago) mainly from the IVth and Vth Dynasties of Egypt had truly remarkable and unique optical pro perties. These were parts of equally fascinating eye structures. These stru ctures were fabricated as separate assemblies for insertion into funerary s tatues during certain brief windows of time (roughly from 2620-2400 BC, and 1750-1700 BC). These "eyes" appear to follow the observer as he/she rotate d in any direction about these statues. In this paper, by simple means, we have recreated the optical properties of these unique lenses in the laborat ory in order to help understand their special properties. (C) 2000 The Coll ege of Optometrists. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved .