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Romans knew about steam power? Never heard that one before, have a good place to read about it?
by nerdponx 5y ago
Romans knew about steam power? Never heard that one before, have a good place to read about it?
- WJW 5y agoThe first steam "engine" was the Aeolipile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aeolipile), but it was more a toy than a useful tool. IIRC there was also a temple somewhere that used steam to open its doors as a cool trick to impress the masses.
- Karawebnetwork 5y agoLook also at Heron's automatic door, 1st century AD. Lighting a pyre changed the water pressure in a container, which then used basic hydraulic concepts to open a temple door. It is imagined that it would be used to imitate magic. Light the fire after a sacrifice and suddenly a higher power would open the door to the temple. "Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic"