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Hero of Alexandria
(dates undetermined, between 150 BC and 300 AD)
Hero of Alexandria, as depicted in a 1688 German translation of
his Pneumatics. |
The
mathematician and inventor Hero is believed to have lived in
Alexandria. His writings in Greek, thought to be compilations
from works of ancient philosophers and mechanicians, concern
studies of mechanics and pneumatics. They include nearly
80 ingenious inventions (such as siphons, fountains, and
engines) which, “by the union of [compressed] air, earth,
fire, and water, and the concurrence of… elementary principles…,
supply the most pressing wants of human life, [or] produce
amazement and alarm.” His book on pneumatics describes many
gadgets and magical tricks and includes the first suggestion of
a steam engine, which his book on mechanics demonstrates
knowledge of multiple pulleys, cogwheels, levers, and the like. |
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The flow of water
into a sealed container forces air out through a small bent
tube. The air, bubbling into a cup of water, sounds like a bird
singing. (The Pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria, page 29)
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A water jet
produced by mechanically compressed air. (Pneumatics,
page 23, OR Spiritalium Liber, page 19.)
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Steam, produced
in a heated pot, is fed into a ball that is held on 2 pivots,
which spins when the steam exits via bent tubes. This
device is one of the earliest suggestions of the steam engine. (Spiritalium
Liber, page 52)
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When the human
figure is turned toward the dragon, a valve between the two
sealed chambers under the figure closes. However if the human
figure is rotated to the side, the valve connecting the two
chambers opens, water flows from the top to the bottom chamber,
and suction is created in the pipe leading from the upper
chamber to the dragon’s mouth. Because of this suction, the
dragon appears to drink if a cup of water is held up to its
mouth. (Buch von Lufft-Und Wasser-Kunsten, page 3)
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Hero in the History of
Hydraulics Collection:
- Spiritalium Liber,
Latin translation of Hero’s Pneumatics, published 1575, Urbino,
Italy. (Call number QC 142 H54)
- De Gli Automati,
Overo Machine Se Moventi (Italian translation of Hero’s Mechanics,
published 1601 in Venice, Italy) (Call number: TJ215 H4)
- Buch von Lufft-Und
Wasser-Kunsten (German translation of Hero’s Pneumatics,
published 1688, Frankfurt) (Call number: Q147 H4)
- The Pneumatics of
Hero of Alexandria (English translation, published London, 1851)
(Call number: QC 142 H52)
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