Obsidian Mirror
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Obsidian Mirror: The Mysterious Artifact That Connected Elizabeth I and the Aztecs
Obsidian is a type of volcanic glass that was widely used by ancient cultures for making tools, weapons, ornaments and ritual objects. One of the most fascinating uses of obsidian was to create mirrors, which were believed to have magical and divinatory powers.
In this article, we will explore the history and significance of one of the most famous obsidian mirrors in the world: the one that belonged to John Dee, a renowned astrologer, mathematician and adviser of Queen Elizabeth I of England.
Who was John Dee?
John Dee was born in 1527 in London, England. He was a brilliant scholar who studied at Cambridge University and traveled across Europe to learn from various sources of knowledge. He was interested in astronomy, alchemy, mathematics, navigation, geography and occultism.
He became a trusted confidant of Queen Elizabeth I, who consulted him on various matters of state and science. He also advocated for voyages of discovery and colonization, especially in North America.
Later in his life, he became more involved in divination and the occult, seeking to communicate with angels and spirits through the use of scryers (people who could see visions in reflective surfaces) and artifacts like mirrors and crystals.
What is the obsidian mirror?
The obsidian mirror that John Dee used for his scrying sessions is a circular disk of black volcanic glass, about 13 cm in diameter and 1 cm thick. It has a smooth polished surface that reflects light.
The mirror is currently kept at the British Museum in London, where it is displayed as part of the Enlightenment Gallery. It is one of the most intriguing objects in the museum's collection, as it connects two very different worlds: Elizabethan England and Aztec Mexico.
Where did the obsidian mirror come from?
The origin of the obsidian mirror has been a mystery for a long time. There are no records of how John Dee acquired it or where it was made. Some speculated that it was a gift from Queen Elizabeth I or from one of her courtiers who had traveled to Mexico.
However, recent scientific analysis has revealed that the obsidian mirror was actually made by the Aztecs, a powerful civilization that dominated central Mexico before the Spanish conquest in 1521. The analysis used X-ray fluorescence to determine the chemical composition of the obsidian, which matched that of a specific source in Pachuca, Mexico.
The obsidian mirror is estimated to be about 500 years old, most likely made in the final decades before the Spanish invasion. It is possible that some of these mirrors were specially commissioned by Hernán Cortés, the Spanish conquistador who led the expedition that toppled the Aztec empire, to send back to Europe as exotic curiosities.
What did the obsidian mirror mean to the Aztecs?
The Aztecs valued obsidian for its hardness, sharpness and beauty. They used it to make knives, arrowheads, jewelry and other items. They also believed that obsidian had spiritual and supernatural properties, as it was associated with Tezcatlipoca, one of their main gods.
Tezcatlipoca was known as the "Smoking Mirror", because he could see everything that happened in the world through his obsidian mirror. He was also a god of war, fate, rulership and magic. He often appeared as a jaguar or a warrior with an obsidian foot.
The Aztecs made obsidian mirrors to emulate Tezcatlipoca's power and vision. They used them for rituals, ceremonies and divination. They believed that looking into an obsidian mirror could reveal one's true self, as well as hidden secrets and future events.
What did the obsidian mirror mean to John Dee?
John Dee was fascinated by the obsidian mirror and its mysterious origins. He believed that it was a powerful tool for scrying and contacting higher realms of existence. He used it to conduct experiments and conversations with angels and spirits.
He hired several scryers to assist him in his endeavors, most notably Edward Kelley ec8f644aee