Introduction
Hero of Alexandria in Egypt was the designer of self-animated ancient wondrous machines (automata). Through these machines, and his other first century CE creations, Hero’s aim was to inspire wonder through people learning about mechanical knowledge by watching his demonstrations or reading his works, and through experiencing the sensory spectacles created by his wondrous mobile and stationary automata.
Many of Hero’s ideas are today preserved in texts covering a variety of mechanical and mathematical topics. The exhibition Wondrous Machines brings to life Hero’s miraculous auto-propelling Dionysiac shrine. By 3D printing key components of the shrine, we invite you to wonder about both modern and ancient automation. Hero’s complex ancient mechanical components were created from simple cords, wheels, axles, counterweights, taps and pins. These components, skilfully combined, created complex machines designed to invoke emotional audience responses. Remarkably, as the exhibition reveals, these components have also inspired modern digital theories and technologies, including UQ’s biped TGR (Tiny Giant Robot).
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Curated by: Dr Janette McWilliam, Dr Duncan Keenan-Jones, Associate Professor Pauline Pounds, Mr James Donaldson, Ms Charlotte Mann and Dr Marie Boden
3D Printing: Associate Professor Pauline Pounds
3D Models: Based on plans of the shrine created in 2016 by Dr Keenan-Jones at the University of Glasgow as part of a Leverhulme Funded research project ‘Hero of Alexandria and his Theatrical Automata’ (with Dr Ruffell (PI), Dr McGookin and Dr Grillo)
The Exhibition is funded by a major grant from the QUEX Institute (UQ and Exeter), and with the support of the support of the School of Historical and Philosophical Inquiry and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. This exhibition is the first event in an ongoing series that will explore the theme of Digital Worlds and Disruptive Technologies from multi-disciplinary perspectives with colleagues from the Centre for Knowledge in Culture in Antiquity and Beyond (University of Exeter, Dr Gabriele ), The RD Milns Antiquities Museum (UQ), Classics and Ancient History (UQ and the University of Glasgow), Philosophy (UQ, Exeter and UCLA), and ITEE and Robotics (UQ)
QUEX Project Team: Dr Janette McWilliam (UQ), Dr Gabriele Galluzzo (Exeter), Dr Duncan Keenan-Jones (UQ), Associate Professor Pauline Pounds (UQ), Dr Marie Boden (UQ), Dr Maria Gerolemou (Exeter), Mr James Donaldson (UQ), Professor Deborah Brown (UQ), Dr David Leith (Exeter), Professor Barbara Borg (Exeter), Professor Isabelle Ruffell (Glasgow), Professor Calvin Normore (UCLA)