Bicycle Tour of Peloponnese, Greece,
From Korinth to Olympia
September/October, 2018
Day 9
Hurricane Rain and Wind Day 3.
We waited out the storm in the town of Olympia.
We Visited the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology which includes much about Archimedes.
Above Left: This very old Loom sat in our hotel Lobby.
Above Right: Plenty of bikes will be at rest today. The Bee was the only Yellow bike, it was at the far rear of the herd, and it was safe back there.
Above: Winged Victory! Nike is Athena with her game face on, standing there in Olympia, Home of the games.
Above: A very good and photogenic restaurant in Olympia, Greece.
Above Left: A view across modern Olympia.
Above Right: The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology. Terry is waving. All objects in the Museum are replicas, the point is to demonstrate ideas that came from Greece.
A tour to this museum will likely leave a person with an understanding of how great the advancements from Archimedes (of Syracuse), for his time he was the equivalent of Leonardo da Vinci as well as Michelangelo in their times.
The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology
Above: The Museum of Ancient Greek Technology - We spent a lot of time there.
Ancient Super Cargo Ship Existed
Above: Super Cargo Ship Existed in Ancient Greece.
Above: Super Ship Details (the model has some flaws but it conveys the idea of big shipping in ancient times).
Above Left: Supper Ship Details.
Above Right: Fighting Armor, not from the Romans.
How to Easily Move an Object Uphill - Archimedes
Above: How to Easily Move an Object Uphill - Archimedes.
The Hydraulic Screw (Moves Water Uphill) - Archimedes
Above: The Hydraulic Screw moves water uphill - Archimedes.
The Portable Construction Crane
Above Left: There is a lot in this image, like Archimedes Water Screw, but we were interested in the Portable Construction Crane and the works that go with it to include the Wolf.
Above Right: Winch Operation Details.
Above Left: Winch Operation Details.
Above Right: Land Survey Gear which facilitates the use of Trigonometry, another Greek invention. The Greeks also developed Astrological / Spatial Measure Gear.
The Wolf (Used in Construction)
Rapid Fire Stone Throwing Catapult and a Heat Expansion Cannon
Above: Rapid-Fire Catapult - Created by Diades of Pella (Alexander's Birthplace) the Chief Engineer of Alexander the Great (both were Greek/Macedonian). It had Torsion Springs, a Rachet, Grooved Slot, Claw Trigger. It is known that Archimedes improved the Catapult.
Above Left: Working reproduction of Diades' Rapid-Fire Catapult.
A List of Archimedes Works and Non-Surviving Works
(known of by reference)
Above: A List of Archimedes Works and Non-Surviving Works known of by reference.
Comments:
- A lot of Science and Mathematics was preserved by Islamic Scientists after the fall of the Roman Empire (known as the Dark Ages for Western Civilization).
- Archimedes laid out the ground work for Limit Calculus.
- Archimedes was killed by a Roman Soldier who did not know who he was but was under orders by the Occupation Army Commanders to not hinder Archimedes.
- Archimedes was drawing giant circles on the ground when he was killed.
Archimedes had Performed with Sun Light and Parabolic Reflectors
Above: These are repeat photographs but they demonstrate working models of Archimedes' Parabolic Light reflectors. Some speculation follows:
Archimedes and light reflecting parabolic mirrors used as a weapon? It is an age old question (well discussed at http://www.unmuseum.org/burning_mirror.htm with and answer that cannot be proven as Yes or No. It appears that Archimedes did experiment with parabolic mirrors (polished metal dishes as well as dish frames with multiple reflecting fragments). Even President Obama asked the TV show Myth Busters to explore this possibility, their conclusion was that it was possible but not provable or disprovable.
Archimedes Clock, A Reproduction
Above Left: A Clock with springs, toothed sprockets, and gear size differences to change turn ratios.
Above Right: Other displays and concepts, maybe the Astrolab is visible?
Dionysios' Repeating Catapult
Above: While this is a marvel of 3c BC invention, a repeating Arrow/Bolt launcher, what I most admired was the chain-drive on a Pentagon sided drive sprocket. I wonder if this could work on a bicycle?
Above: Details of the chain-drive on a Pentagon sided drive sprocket.
Above Left: Image of the complete and working Repeating Catapult system.
Above Right: Another ancient Greek invention.
The Astrolabe and the Vertical Loom
Above Left: The Astrolabe - It was based on a round earth, they may or may not have understood that the earth revolved around the sun, they did understand tilt of the earth bring seasons, and they understood planets in the solar system. Amazingly Arab Sailors understood. The Astrolabe demonstrates Astronomy and assists in learning Celestial Navigation.
Above Right: The Greeks claim invention of the Vertical Loom.
The Globe and a Round Earth, Ancient Greek Concept
An Ancient Greek tool for Measuring Star, Moon, or Planet Angles
Above: An Ancient Greek tool for measuring star, moon, or planet angles.
Concept of a Rocket, Flying Pigeon, Archytas, 5c BC
Archimedes, The Greatest Physicist
Above: The argument is put forth for Archimedes being the Greatest Physicist.
A Late Lunch and then Back to the Hotel
Above Left: Art on the wall of our Restaurant in Olympia.
Above Right: Our weather meter for the day.
Summary
This was our last day for waiting out the wind and rain from the Mediterranean Hurricane that passed just south of Greece, affecting us of course, and as of this day the storm is heading toward northern Turkey. Ironically, after this Greek Bike Tour (in a few days), we are going directly to Istanbul. We will almost catch-up to the storm in Turkey but still catch the cloud and wind effects.
Every rider in our bike tour struck out on their own on this day and everyone made the best day of it. Most of us shared stories at evening dinner. We certainly enjoyed visiting the Museum of Ancient Greek Technology and I have to agree that the advancements of Archimedes (of Syracuse) in his time (at the end of the Bronze Age), had contributed to the advancement of technology, science, and math in as positive a way as the advancements of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo in their different times.
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