Scrying is a divinatory practice akin to tarot reading. Crystal balls as magical television is a modern fantasy trope that might have originated with the “palantíri” in Tolkien’s legendarium, which is more recent than the actual invention of television.
IIRC, Dante’s Purgatorio did have things strongly reminiscent of flat-screen TVs, playing back scenes from dead people’s lives or something.
IIRC, Dante’s Purgatorio did have things strongly reminiscent of flat-screen TVs, playing back scenes from dead people’s lives or something.