in another unrelated story that happened some 60 years before Lucian of Samosata: ... emperor Vespasian (is said) to have purchased and destroyed the model of

in another unrelated story that happened some 60 years before Lucian of Samosata: ... emperor Vespasian (is said) to have purchased and destroyed the model of a mechanical device that would have made construction work more efficient, saying, “You must let me feed my poor commons (Sine me pascere plebeculam meam)” In these cases, preserving political stability motivated government to suppress technology ... http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Technology/en/HeroAndLoon.html http://www.hellenicaworld.com/Greece/Technology/en/HeroAndLo...