Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Ctesibica machina

Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary, and Greek Lexicon (Rich, 1849)

CTESIB'ICA MACH'INA. A double-actioned forcing-pump, invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria, who lived in the age of Ptolemy Euergetes (Vitruv. ix. 8. 2. Plin. H. N. vii. 38.), and constructed upon the principle now employed for our fire-engines. The machine is described at length by Vitruvius (x. 7.), from the writings of its inventor, which are now lost; and a pump of similar character, but improved construction, probably after a model of Hero, the pupil of Ctesibius, was discovered near Civita Vecchia, in the last century; but as that does not contain all the parts mentioned by Vitruvius, a representation of it is inserted under its Greek name SIPHO, where the component parts of which it consists are explained from the description of Hero. In this place, only a conjectural diagram (Ctesibica_machina/1.1) of the machina Ctesibica is introduced, designed by Perrault in accordance with the account of Vitruvius; but it will enable the reader, from a comparison of the two together, to form an accurate idea of the nature of these machines, and the difference between them. The parts mentioned by Vitruvius are: — catinus, the cup, A, which was not employed by Hero, who, instead of it, uses an upright tube (σωλὴν ὄρθιος); modioli gemelli, B B, the two boxes, or cases, in which the pistons (regulae) act, corresponding with the δύο πυξίδες of Hero; emboli masculi, two suckers (C C), same as ἐμβολεῖς, Hero; fistulae in furcillae figura, two connecting pipes in the form of a fork, which in the pump of Hero are supplied by a single horizontal tube (δωλήν); and paenula, the cowl (D), placed over the cup to compress the water at the foot of the hose; not used by Hero. The operation of the machine is easily understood. It was placed over the reservoir, and both pistons worked together, the one being depressed while the other was drawn up; as the sucker (C) rises, it draws up a supply of water through an opening at the bottom of the cylinder (B), which is furnished with a moveable lid (marked by dotted lines in the engraving), that opens as the water flows in, but closes of its own accord immediately that the piston is pressed down again; and this pressure forces the water through the forked pipe into the catinus (A), the bottom of which, in like manner, is furnished with moveable lids over each pipe, alternately opening and shutting with each stroke of the pistons, which, as they move alternately up and down, force up the water in a continuous stream through the paenula (D) into a pipe or hose affixed to the top of it, and made to any length required.

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  Ctesibica machina/1.1