7 Outstanding Masterpieces of Ancient Greek Engineering

Over the years, numerous scientific inventions and discoveries have been attributed to ancient Greece. Although many of these discoveries were improved by subsequent generations, the contribution of ancient Greek engineering in the field of astronomy, geography, and mathematics is priceless as it pioneered the age of science. Here is a list of top 7 Greek engineering marvels, which are so remarkable that they are still used in today’s world.

Water Mill

Not so long ago, water mills were a revolutionary invention which was used all over the world for the purpose of metal shaping, agriculture, and most importantly, milling. The term ‘milling’ refers to the process of grinding materials. This enabled humanity to grind grains to produce edible food staples like beaten rice, cereals, pulses, and flour. Ever since its origination, water mill has seen a number of subsequent variations, which allowed humans to make different raw materials from them. These mills are still used in many parts of the rural world to serve similar purposes.

Odometer

The first odometer was invented by an ancient Greek mathematician, Archimedes of Syracuse (287 – 212 BC). An odometer measures the distance traveled by a vehicle such as a bicycle or an automobile. Despite the fact that we have digital odometers these days, they were mechanical and slow in the past. They have evolved massively with the rise of technology to revolutionize the building of roads and traveling by accurately measuring distance and being able to carefully illustrate it with a milestone.

Alarm Clock

One of the most commonly used gadgets, an alarm clock, also had its origin in ancient Greece. In due course of time and with the proper sophistication of technology, the alarm clock went through a number of changes from a mechanical alarm to some modern gadgets like a cell phone. But the first of alarms (designed by ancient Greek) was not engineered like the ones we have today. They used to integrate mechanism to time the alarm, which would sound off delicate water organs or pebbles into drums.

Computer

It may come as a surprise for many, but the first computer was made by ancient Greeks. Forget all you know about Apple, Bill Gates, and Microsoft because the very first computer was an analog machine, which was found by sponge divers concealed in the wreckage of a ship. Said to date back to around 87 B.C, the Antikythera mechanism was encased in a wooden box and consisted of a clockwork mechanism of about thirty bronze gears. It was used to calculate astronomical positions and eclipses for use in calendars and other astrological predictions.

Automatic Doors

The first application of automatic doors used heat from a fire lit by the city’s temple priest. After a few hours, atmospheric pressure built up in a brass vessel causing it to pump water into adjacent containers. These containers acted as weights that, through a series of ropes and pulleys, would open the temple’s doors at about the time people were to arrive for prayer. The same mechanism was later on used to open city doors. Over time, automatic doors have evolved to reflect modern technology.

Steam Engine

A steam engine is a heat engine that performs mechanical work using steam as its working fluid. It uses the force produced by steam pressure to push a piston back and forth inside a cylinder. This pushing force is transformed, by a connecting rod and flywheel, into rotational force for work. The blade-less steam turbine spins as the steam from heated water escapes the turbine. This creates torque which in turn produces energy. Also known as the Aeolipile, Hero’s Engine was the first radial steam turbine engine developed. Just like everything else on the list, the first ever steam turbine engine has slowly evolved both in design and working to be more powerful and efficient than its previous iterations.

Catapult

The catapult was used in the wars of Ancient Greece alongside various other Greek weapons like Ballista, a projectile weapon. The contraption uses stored mechanical energy to thrust projectiles unlike the raw explosive power usually found in cannons. The catapult has proven to be one of the most effective mechanisms during warfare. In modern times, the term refers to devices ranging from simple hand-held slingshot to the ones that launch aircraft from a ship. This particular masterpiece of ancient Greek engineering was used until the Middle Ages.