Abstract

Among the writings devoted to the reflection of “visual” and solar rays on various mirrors, there are two that preceded many others and that occupy a central position in the history of catoptrics: one is attributed to Euclid, the other to Ptolemy. To these two names, we add a third, hitherto unknown, Thiasos. In this article, we take up the textual and conceptual history of this catoptric research tradition.