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Citation

Alternate Title(s): Spiritalium liber
Notes: trans. Federico Commandino
Author: Hero of Alexandria
Publication Location: Urbini
Year: 1575

Item Location

Summary

Once an altar is lighted, the temple doors open automatically. Hero fashioned all sorts of marvelous automata using steam, air pressure, hydraulics and falling weights. Devices included an automatic wine dispenser, siphons, garden fountains, engines, pumps, steam-powered toys, and magic tricks. Hero of Alexandria represents not only Roman accomplishments in physics and technology but also the common background of Renaissance scientist-engineers like Galileo.

Related Items

Theme(s): Physics, Scientific Instruments, Engineering, Meteorology, Chemistry
Chronological Period: Late Ancient
Geographical Region(s): Egypt
Resource Type: Book