What substance did Hero of Alexandria's apparatus dispense in Egyptian temples?
Answer
A measured amount of holy water
Hero's ingenious mechanical device was specifically designed to serve a religious function within Egyptian temples. Its purpose was not commercial transaction but providing worshippers with a fixed, measured quantity of holy water upon making the required offering. This contrasts sharply with the 19th-century shift where machines focused on convenience and commerce, dispensing physical goods like paper ephemera or tobacco products instead of sacred liquid.
#Videos
Almanac: The first vending machine patent - YouTube
Related Questions
Where and when did Hero of Alexandria live when inventing the first known vending apparatus?What substance did Hero of Alexandria's apparatus dispense in Egyptian temples?What core physical principles powered Hero's timed dispensing system described in Pneumatica?How did the weight of the coin initiate water flow in Hero's specific lever mechanism?What characterized the historical period immediately following Hero's vending creation?What category of low-value items were initially dispensed by commercial precursors in London in the 1850s?What physical characteristics did early 19th-century mechanical verification systems typically rely upon?What contrasting societal applications defined Hero's invention versus 19th-century vending machines?What core human desire is identified as the driving force behind vending technology from Alexandria to London?Which environmental factor provided fertile ground for the large-scale adoption of vending machines in the United States?