[78-L] Roman technology (was: Record Collecting)

[Benno Häupl]

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Actually, Roman technology was very sophisticated. 
Take the discus they found off Sicily that was even more 
complicated than a Swiss Blancpain mechanical watch - and 
precise to the second after a year of operation.  

Or the theater box that automatically performed a whole 
story on a stage for about 15 to 20 minutes. With birds 
chirping, bears groaning, people laughing etc. 

All this was found and has been (partially) reconstructed. 

Makes me wonder if these following reports are true: 

THE HEAD OF NUMA POMPILIUS (Rome, ca. 700 B.C.) 
A Etruscan slave constructed a head that could shout the 
name of Pompilius aloud. The slave died shortly after finishing 
his work. When the head was opened to inspect how it worked, 
mice had destroyed the wood and leather of the mechanical 
parts. This is why it was not possible to repair the mechanism. 

THE THOUSAND MILES SPEAKER (China, 1000 B.C.) 
Described in a 2,000 years old book found in China by Sir 
Robert Hart. Supposedly a bronze cylinder to be put on a 
plate and rotated in order to reproduce the sound. 

GARGAPIADES' MACHINE (Persia, ca. 500 B.C.) 
Xenophone reports that the Persian Gargapiades who lived at 
the Court of King Darius, had built a speaking machine, but it  
sounded hollow. 
  
Benno