This article is about the inventor and mathematician. For the lunar crater, see Ctesibius (crater). For the beetle genus, see Ctesibius (beetle).
Ctesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius (Greek: Κτησίβιος; fl. 285–222 BC) was a Greekinventor and mathematician in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt.[1] He wrote the first treatises on the science of compressed air and its uses in pumps (and even in a kind of cannon). This, in combination with his work On pneumatics on the elasticity of air, earned him the title of "father of pneumatics." None of his written work has survived, including his Memorabilia, a compilation of his research that was cited by Athenaeus. Ctesibius' most commonly known invention today is a pipe organ (hydraulis), a predecessor of the modern church organ.
Ctesibius was probably the first head of the Museum of Alexandria. Very little is known of his life, but his inventions were well known. It is said (possibly by Diogenes Laërtius) that his first career was as a barber. During his time as a barber, he invented a counterweight-adjustable mirror. Another invention of his included the hydraulis, a water organ that is considered the precursor of the modern pipe organ, of which he and his wife Thais were highly reputed players.[2][3] He improved the water clock or clepsydra ("water thief"), which for more than 1,800 years was the most accurate clock ever constructed, until the Dutch physicistChristiaan Huygens' invention of the pendulum clock in 1656.
Ctesibius described one of the first force pumps for producing a jet of water, or for lifting water from wells. Examples have been found at various Roman sites, such as at Silchester in Britain. The principle of the siphon has also been attributed to him.
According to Diogenes Laërtius, Ctesibius was miserably poor. Laërtius details this by recounting the following concerning the philosopher Arcesilaus:
When he had gone to visit Ctesibius who was ill, seeing him in great distress from want, he secretly slipped his purse under his pillow; and when Ctesibius found it, "This," said he, "is the amusement of Arcesilaus."
Hydraulic clock of Ctesibius, reconstruction at the Technological Museum of Thessaloniki
Reputationedit
Ctesibius's work is chronicled by Vitruvius, Athenaeus, Pliny the Elder, and Philo of Byzantium who repeatedly mention him, adding that the first mechanicians such as Ctesibius had the advantage of being under kings who loved fame and supported the arts. Proclus (the commentator on Euclid) and Hero of Alexandria (the last of the engineers of antiquity) also mention him.
^Leon, Vicki (1995). Uppity Women of Ancient Times. Conari Press. p. 82. ISBN9781573240109.
^"Ctesibius". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
Further readingedit
Landels, J.G. (1978). Engineering in the ancient world. Berkeley: Univ. of California Press. ISBN0-520-03429-5.
Lloyd, G.E.R. (1973). Greek science after Aristotle. New York: Norton. ISBN0-393-04371-1.
Vitruvius (1914). The Ten Books on Architecture. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
December 02, 2023
ctesibius, this, article, about, inventor, mathematician, lunar, crater, crater, beetle, genus, beetle, ktesibios, tesibius, greek, Κτησίβιος, greek, inventor, mathematician, alexandria, ptolemaic, egypt, wrote, first, treatises, science, compressed, uses, pum. This article is about the inventor and mathematician For the lunar crater see Ctesibius crater For the beetle genus see Ctesibius beetle Ctesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius Greek Kthsibios fl 285 222 BC was a Greek inventor and mathematician in Alexandria Ptolemaic Egypt 1 He wrote the first treatises on the science of compressed air and its uses in pumps and even in a kind of cannon This in combination with his work On pneumatics on the elasticity of air earned him the title of father of pneumatics None of his written work has survived including his Memorabilia a compilation of his research that was cited by Athenaeus Ctesibius most commonly known invention today is a pipe organ hydraulis a predecessor of the modern church organ CtesibiusBorn285 BCUnknownDied222 BCAlexandria EgyptNationalityGreekScientific careerFieldsMathematicsCtesibius water clock as visualized by the 17th century French architect Claude Perrault Contents 1 Inventions 2 Reputation 3 Commemoration 4 References 5 Further readingInventions editCtesibius was probably the first head of the Museum of Alexandria Very little is known of his life but his inventions were well known It is said possibly by Diogenes Laertius that his first career was as a barber During his time as a barber he invented a counterweight adjustable mirror Another invention of his included the hydraulis a water organ that is considered the precursor of the modern pipe organ of which he and his wife Thais were highly reputed players 2 3 He improved the water clock or clepsydra water thief which for more than 1 800 years was the most accurate clock ever constructed until the Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens invention of the pendulum clock in 1656 Ctesibius described one of the first force pumps for producing a jet of water or for lifting water from wells Examples have been found at various Roman sites such as at Silchester in Britain The principle of the siphon has also been attributed to him According to Diogenes Laertius Ctesibius was miserably poor Laertius details this by recounting the following concerning the philosopher Arcesilaus When he had gone to visit Ctesibius who was ill seeing him in great distress from want he secretly slipped his purse under his pillow and when Ctesibius found it This said he is the amusement of Arcesilaus nbsp Hydraulic clock of Ctesibius reconstruction at the Technological Museum of ThessalonikiReputation editCtesibius s work is chronicled by Vitruvius Athenaeus Pliny the Elder and Philo of Byzantium who repeatedly mention him adding that the first mechanicians such as Ctesibius had the advantage of being under kings who loved fame and supported the arts Proclus the commentator on Euclid and Hero of Alexandria the last of the engineers of antiquity also mention him Commemoration editIn 1976 the International Astronomical Union named the crater on the far side of the Moon Ctesibius 4 References edit Encyclopaedia Britannica Ctesibius Greek physicist and inventor the first great figure of the ancient engineering tradition of Alexandria Egypt Athenaeus Deipnosophistae 4 174e Leon Vicki 1995 Uppity Women of Ancient Times Conari Press p 82 ISBN 9781573240109 Ctesibius Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature USGS Astrogeology Research Program Further reading editLandels J G 1978 Engineering in the ancient world Berkeley Univ of California Press ISBN 0 520 03429 5 Lloyd G E R 1973 Greek science after Aristotle New York Norton ISBN 0 393 04371 1 Vitruvius 1914 The Ten Books on Architecture Cambridge Harvard University Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ctesibius amp oldid 1182980247, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
