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The Mechanical Genius of Alexandria: Ctesibius of Alexandria
Paperback
Biographies GeneralHistorical Figures
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Publisher: Michael Webster
Published: Dec 16 2025
Pages: 160
Weight: 0.42
Height: 0.37 Width: 5.50 Depth: 8.50
Language: English
Before the computer, before the steam engine, there was Ctesibius.
In the bustling, brilliant city of Alexandria, 3rd century BCE, a humble barber named Ctesibius sparked the world's first mechanical revolution. Against the backdrop of the mighty Ptolemaic Empire, this self-taught genius mastered the science of air and water, creating machines that seemed like magic.
From the world's first regulatory water clock-the predecessor to all automated devices-to the high-pressure force pump that built Rome, and the magnificent hydraulis, the ancestor of the modern pipe organ, Ctesibius laid the foundations for engineering and automation.
The Mechanical Genius of Alexandria is the essential, comprehensive account of Ctesibius's lost world, his unparalleled inventions, and the deep, enduring impact he had on Western technology. Dive into the mind of the engineer who changed how the ancient world measured time, fought fires, and made music. Approx.160 pages, 27700 word count
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