11/30/2025
The earliest known optical lenses date back to which ancient civilization?
✅ Answer: c) Babylonian (The “Nimrud Lens” ~750 BC)
👁️ Did You Know?
The Nimrud Lens is an ancient piece of rock crystal discovered in 1850 by archaeologist Austen Henry Layard during excavations at the Assyrian palace in Nimrud (in present-day Iraq). It dates back to around 750–710 BCE, making it over 2,700 years old.
Some believe it helped artisans with detailed work, while others think it was used to focus sunlight to start fires. 🔍☀️
Even thousands of years ago, humans were experimenting with optics and vision!