HERON OF ALEXANDRIA (c. 10–85 AD)

Evagelos Papadopoulos
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens.

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Abstract. Heron of Alexandria was a mathematician, physicist and engineer who lived around 10–85 AD. He taught at Alexandria’s Musaeum and wrote many books on Mathematics, Geometry and Engineering, which were in use till the medieval times. His most important invention was the Aeolipile, the first steam turbine. Other inventions include automated machines for temples and theaters, surveying instruments, and military machines and weapons.
Introduction
The ancient Greek technology developed mostly in the period 300 BC to 150 AD and was in use for more than one thousand years. It had a profound impact both on Western and Muslim civilization. Notable inventions include cranes, screws, gears, organs, odometer, dial and pointer devices, wheelbarrows, diving bells, parchment, crossbows, torsion catapults, rutways, showers, roof tiles, breakwaters, and many more. Greek engineers were pioneers in three of the first four means of non-human propulsion known prior to the Industrial Age: watermills, windmills, and steam engines, although only water power was used extensively, (Lahanas, Web). Among the Ancient Greek Engineers, the most prominent include Archimedes, Ktesibios, Heron, andPappos.

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