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Ancient automaton12/31/2023 ![]() ![]() ![]() His Pneumatica, which described a series of apparatus for natural magic or parlor magic, was definitely the most widely read of his works during the Middle Ages more than 100 manuscripts of it survived. More illustrated technical treatises by Heron survived than those of any other writer from the ancient world. The sound of thunder was produced by the mechanically-timed dropping of metal balls onto a hidden drum. ♦ Mechanisms for the Greek theater, including an entirely mechanical puppet play almost ten minutes in length, powered by a binary-like system of ropes, knots, and simple machines operated by a rotating cylindrical cogwheel. The pan continued to tilt with the weight of the coin until the coin fell off, at which point a counter-weight would snap the lever back up and turn off the valve. The lever opened up a valve which let some water flow out. When the coin was deposited, it fell upon a pan attached to a lever. When a coin was introduced through a slot on the top of the machine, a set amount of holy water was dispensed. ♦ A windwheel operating a pipe organ-the first instance of wind powering a machine. These included devices for temples to instill faith by deceiving believers with "magical acts of the gods," for theatrical spectacles, and machines like a statue that poured wine. In Heron's numerous surviving writings are designs for automata-machines operated by mechanical or pneumatic means. Boas cites evidence in Heron's treatise Dioptra that Heron referred to an eclipse of the moon that occurred on March 13, 63, which would place him definitely in the first century. The dates of the Greek mathematician and engineer Heron of Alexandria (Hero of Alexandria, Ἥρων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς) are not known with certainty, but he must have worked between the first and third century CE. ![]()
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