(ORDO NEWS) — Architas was an ancient Greek philosopher who was born in 428 BC. in Tarentum, Magna Grazia, now southern Italy.
In addition to being a philosopher, Architas was also a mathematician, astronomer, statesman and strategist, and is best remembered for inventing what is believed to be the first ever self-propelled flying device, known as the “Flying Dove”.
Explaining the world with mathematics
When Architas was young, Philolaus taught him. Over time, he became a Pythagorean, believing that only arithmetic could serve as the basis for satisfactory proofs and that this could not be achieved through geometry. He even taught mathematics to Eudoxus of Cnidus and Menechmus.
For Archytas, everything revolved around mathematics and could be explained through it.
He viewed mathematics as four branches: geometry, arithmetic, astronomy, and music. In the preface to one of his works (some call it “On Mathematics”, and others – “On the Harmonica”) Architas wrote:
Mathematicians, it seems to me, have excellent insight, and it is not at all strange that they think correctly about those particulars that are; because since they are well versed in the physics of the universe, then most likely they also have an excellent perspective on those particulars that are. Indeed, they have given us a keen understanding of the speeds of stars, their rising and setting, as well as geometry, arithmetic, astronomy and, last but not least, music. These sciences seem to be kindred, since they concern the first two kindred forms of being [number and magnitude].
Archytas held good leadership positions. At some point, the Pythagoreans were attacked and expelled from Magna-Greece, and the only relative refuge for them was the city of Tarentum.
Archytas became the leader of the Pythagoreans in Tarentum and attempted to unite the Greek cities in his area in order to create an alliance against non-Greek neighbors.
Although under the laws of the Tarentum one person could hold the post of commander-in-chief for only one year, Archytas was elected to this position for seven consecutive years.
During this time he was close friends with Plato, and it is believed that he once saved Plato’s life.
Archytas and his steam-powered flying pigeon
It is said that the most important contribution of Architas was that he became the founder of mathematical mechanics.
He was the inventor of what is known as “the first autonomous flying machine of antiquity” – in other words, a flying dove.
The steam-powered flying pigeon of Architas was a very advanced invention for its time.
It was named the flying pigeon because its design resembled a bird in flight. It was built of wood and was one of the first attempts to understand how birds manage to fly.
The light body of the flying dove was hollow and had a cylindrical shape. Wings protruded from either side of it, with smaller wings at the rear.
The front of the object was pointed like a bird’s beak. The shape of the design was highly aerodynamic, allowing for maximum range and speed.
Meanwhile, there was a hole in the back of the flying dove that led to the inner bladder. This hole was connected to a heated pressurized cauldron.
As more and more steam was generated in the boiler, the steam pressure eventually exceeded the mechanical resistance of the connection and the flying dove took off. The flight continued for several hundred meters.
The steam-powered flying pigeon, invented by Architas between 400 and 350 BC, is sometimes referred to as the world‘s first robot. It is also the first recorded study of how birds fly.
The Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology has created a reconstruction of what a flying dove should have looked like.
Death and legacy of Architas
Architas is believed to have died in a shipwreck in 347 BC off the coast of Mattinata.
His body lay unburied until a sailor threw a handful of sand on it so that Archytas would not have to wander this side of the Styx for a hundred years. This story has never been confirmed.
Even after his death, the works of Architas continue to live on. His significant contributions to mathematics and mechanics remain useful to this day.
Although the extent of his philosophical connections is unknown, Archytas is said to have influenced the work of Plato and Aristotle.
A crater on the Moon was named Archytas in his honor. Obviously, his contribution to the development of modern society, including mathematical achievements and the flying dove, was significant.
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