Lore Lore 294: Upon Reflection
Dec 1, 2025
Explore the eerie mystique of mirrors, from their ancient origins in obsidian to their cultural significance. Delve into mirror rituals for love and loss, and uncover how many believe mirrors might trap souls. The podcast spins chilling tales of Bloody Mary, tracing her various origins and cultural iterations around the globe. It also connects mirrors to vampire myths and examines the intriguing overlap with themes of adolescence and beauty anxieties. Join in on this captivating journey through folklore and reflection.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Ancient Glass That Seemed Like Magic
- The Lycurgus Cup reveals ancient artisans used powdered gold and silver to make glass change color with light.
- Such dichroic glass would have felt like real magic to people in 4th century Rome.
Reflections Were Once Rare
- Mirrors were rare for most of human history and only became common household items in Europe in the late 1600s.
- Before that, polished surfaces like water or obsidian were the main ways people ever saw their faces.
Mirrors As Tools For Divination
- Catoptromancy—divination using mirrors—was practiced across cultures to predict the future or communicate with spirits.
- The church tried to suppress such practices, warning against gazing into any shiny surface.
