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Did you know...
Look at the next picture. If you think that is an ancient statue
then you are wrong. This magnificent statue is ancient
indeed. The thing is that it's not just a statue. It may seem
impossible to you, but this is a ROBOT with the form of a
statue.
The above automat (automats is the ancient Greek word for
robots) was built by Philon of Byzantium, a mechanic of the
very well known school of Alexandria. Philon was the
connecting ring between Ktisibius (whom was his student) and
Heron of Alexandria.
When you put an empty cup to the robot's left hand (normally the
left hand was extended), then it was starting to move down (from
the cup's weight) towards the stable right hand, which was
holding a Oinochoae (a vessel containing wine). When the hand
was reaching at the Oinochoae the automatic machine was able to fill the cup with the desirable
quantity of wine. Next, the robot was pouring water in the cup
mixing it with the wine (the wine in ancient Greece must have
been very strong and therefore it needed rarefaction).
Philon
describes the construction procedure and the way the automat
(robot) worked in great detail. |
Philon's of Byzantium automatic maid
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Notes
The picture you see above was designed by the
French historic researcher Carra de Vaux, who managed to
translate the great work of Philon of Byzantium from 2
Latin and Arabic manuscripts, in French (Unfortunately the original has
not been saved in Greek language).
Based on Philon's
descriptions the robotic statue must have looked like the one you see in the picture.
(The photo comes from the book of Christos D. Lazos, Mechanic and
Technology in ancient Greece, Aiolos editions). |
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Created: 14/07/2005
Updated: 14/08/2011 |
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