We have rather a lot to thank the Ancient Greeks for – quick shoutout to the invention of democracy, theatre, and the Olympics. But sometimes it’s the random little things that count, so here’s a moment of appreciation for my favourite 5:
5. Coming in last place (still made top 5) is the alarm clock. Don’t get me wrong, this is purely for selfish reasons – like a true morning person, I do often subject the snooze button to an unfair amount of aggression in return for it waking me up (yes, I know it is supposed to). The original alarm clock itself was a complex system involving dropping pebbles onto a gong, made by someone called Ctesibius. Both functional and impressive? Sure. Made him popular with the neighbours? Probably not.
4. Next is the computer, ranking second last due to a slight amount of scepticism as to whether something from over 2000 years ago could actually resemble computers now. Then again, I would just like to point that computers even just 50 years ago looked pretty different… Also, only a 3rd of this first ‘computer’ has been found, but already it consists of about 30 interlocking gears, hand powered to predict the motion of the planets. I’ve put a picture of it so you can understand my initial reaction but do also bear in mind the computer was hardly in its prime (post-shipwreck) when said picture was taken.
3. In a respectable 3rd place is the vending machine. This one is actually pretty impressive, with this person called Hero (believe it or not), creating a vending machine remarkably similar to ones today – only it was made to dispense holy water in a temple, perhaps a bit more wholesome than crisps and fizzy drinks. Essentially, Hero made his vending machine so that when someone put a coin in, a valve would open for a bit, allowing the holy water to flow out, then snap back closed. I would say he’s doing a decent job of living up to his name.
2. And coming in 2nd is automatic doors. The Hero of Alexandria is back, this time with a solution to the unbelievably heavy doors of Ancient Greece. This was yet another complicated mechanism – steam powered for a change – involving lighting a fire to slowly displace a large amount of water. It was used in temples, and what it lacked in speed, it made up for in mystery, seemingly opening by magic. Shame really that we don’t appreciate the Rutherford doors half as much as the Ancient Greeks would have.
1. Finally, in 1st place is umbrellas. As a good British citizen (kind of – I’m not a tea drinker), of course this is my favourite – or rather, a few too many rainy journeys to school/mad dashes across the pit have fixed my priorities. In Ancient Greece, they were a popular, but viewed as only a female accessory – you see it was far too ‘feminine’ to prefer to not get burnt by the sun or drenched by rain. But, on the bright side (no weather pun intended), this view eventually did get drowned out – thankfully.
Disclaimers:
- Inventions are unsurprisingly sometimes claimed by/attributed to different people – this article is based off the information from: britannica.com, greekreporter.com, umbrellahistory.net and greekboston.com.
- The inventor Hero is also known by the less exciting name Heron – sorry about that betrayal.
