Herodotus Machine

The Herodotus Machine was a machine described by Herodotus, a Greek historian born in Halicarnassus, Caria (modern-day Bodrum, Turkey). Herodotus claims this invention enabled the ancient Egyptians to construct the pyramids. The contraption supposedly allowed workers to lift heavy building materials. Herodotus is believed to have encountered the device while traveling through Egypt. With limited reference and no true schematics, this machine has stimulated many historians' theories of how the ancient Egyptians were able to create pyramids.

Herodotus in Egypt

Herodotus is suspected of having embellished – or made up entirely – some of his historical accounts, but scholars generally accept this particular account as Herodotus provides otherwise reasonable accounts of Egypt; further, it would have been quite possible for someone living in Halicarnassus to safely and easily travel to Egypt during Herodotus' lifetime. Trade existed between the Greek City States and the kingdom of Egypt.[1] In Egypt Herodotus is thought to have conversed with locals on the matter.[2]

Herodotus' description

Herodotus provides a description of the process in Histories.

The pyramid was built in steps, battlement-wise, as it is called, or, according to others, altar-wise. After laying the stones for the base, they raised the remaining stones to their places by means of machines formed of short wooden planks. The first machine raised them from the ground to the top of the first step. On this there was another machine, which received the stone upon its arrival and conveyed it to the second step, whence a third machine advanced it still higher. Either they had as many machines as there were steps in the pyramid, or possibly they had but a single machine, which, being easily moved, was transferred from tier to tier as the stone rose – both accounts are given and therefore I mention both. The upper portion of the Pyramid was finished first, then the middle and finally the part which was lowest and nearest to the ground.

Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have sketched a machine based on Herodotus' description.[3] Later depictions are premised upon da Vinci's sketches in the Codex Madrid. Visual depictions cannot authoritatively claim to represent Herodotus' machine.

Since Herodotus provides more of a description of the components of the design rather than detailed form or usage, many ideas have been put forward and scale models built.[4][5]

See also

References
  1. Homan, Michael. "Beer and Its Drinkers: An Ancient near Eastern Love Story". Near Eastern Archaeology. 67 (2): 87.
  2. Herodotus, Robin Waterfield, and Carolyn Dewald. The Histories. Oxford: Oxford UP, 2008. Print.
  3. "Niccolai, Gabriele. Leonardo da Vinci a Genius and His Secrets" (PDF). European Commission Apr 2011.
  4. "CHEOPSPYRAMIDE – gebaut mit den eigenen Barken".
  5. "Herodotus' machine – building pyramids".

Further reading
  • Herodotus Machine of Short Woods on YouTube Niccolai, Gabriele (December 2011), Herodotus machine, Museum of Leonardo da Vinci, Firenze: Niccolai Teknoart Group, Recreation via drawing in da Vinci's Codex Madrid I
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