Heron of Alexandria
Automation engineering precursor
Software Developer
Heron of Alexandria was a 1st century Greek mathematician, engineer and experimenter known for inventions like an Aeolipile (Heron's engine), an automated Puppet Theater play, and an automatic 'holy water' dispenser which characterizes him today as a precursor to modern mechanics, automation and cybernetics research. He's described as a teacher at the Museum of Alexandria as he was a pupil of Ctesibius (Museum leader) and most of his known writings appear to be lecture notes for courses in science and engineering.
Heron believed in discovery through theory and practical experimentation. This fact differentiates him from Socrates and Plato, who professed discovery only through deduction and reasoning. He studied the works of his predecessors like Archimedes, Vitruvius and Ctesibius, producing his own original works and implementations. The story of his life exemplifies the intersection of art and science, inspiring many men and women to study and practice science in function of human progress.
Note: This short article was first published as part of a CodePen project named Heron of Alexandria.
