What engineer designed the first coin-operated device for dispensing holy water automatically?
Answer
Hero of Alexandria
The inventor credited with designing this groundbreaking automated dispensing mechanism was Hero of Alexandria, also known in historical texts as Heron. He was a brilliant Hellenistic mathematician and engineer living around the first century AD. His ingenuity extended to mechanical devices powered by various means, including steam, air pressure, or hydraulics. This specific machine was conceived not for commerce but for a religious application: regulating the flow of holy water within Egyptian temples to ensure worshippers received a set, regulated amount without manual intervention.
Related Questions
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