The Unknown Technology in Homer

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-x

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2. Introduction

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 1-1

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3. Introduction

   1. Homer and the Homeric Epics

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 3-11

   2. Troy and the Mythological Causes of the War

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 13-24

   3. Achilles and the Mēnis

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 25-31

   4. The Siege and Fall of Troy

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 33-40

   5. Odysseus’ Long Way Home

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 41-48

   6. Trojan War and Cultural Tradition

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 49-55

   7. Scientific Knowledge in the Homeric Epics

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 57-60

   8. On Science and Technology

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      Pages 61-64

4. Principles of Natural Science

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 66-66

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   2. Chariot Racing and the Laws of Curvilinear Motion

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 67-76

   3. Creep in Wood

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 77-79

   4. Hydrodynamics of Vortices and the Gravitational Sling

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 81-92

5. Automation and Artificial Intelligence

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 94-94

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   2. The Forge of Hephaestus

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      Pages 95-105

   3. The Robots of Hephaestus

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 107-111

   4. The Ships of the Phaeacians and the UAVs

      • S. A. Paipetis

      Pages 113-118

6. Defensive Weapons in the Epics

   1. Front Matter

      Pages 120-120

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   2. Structural Materials and Analytical Processes

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      Pages 121-134

Using such terms as science and technology, which have been relatively - cently adopted, to write about situations and events that occurred 2,500 years ago, may be a paradox. The Homeric Epics, the Iliad and the Odyssey, refer to the Mycenean Era, a civilisation that ?ourished from the 16th to 12th c- tury BCE. The seeming paradox ceases to be one when modern specialists, searching through the ancients texts, discover knowledge and applications so advanced, that can be termed as scienti?c or technological in the modern sense of the words. The present book is based on extensive research performed by the author and his associates at the University of Patras, along with the presentations of other researchers at two international symposia, which he organized in 1 Ancient Olympia. It consists of ?ve parts, of which Part I is introductory, including such chapters as Homer and Homeric Epics, Troy and the mythological causes of the War, Achilles and his wrath, the siege and fall of Troy, Odysseus’ long way home, the Trojan war and the cultural tradition, scienti?c knowledge in the Homeric Epics and ?nally an account on science and technology. Part II includes three chapters on applications of principles of natural s- ence, including chariot racing and the laws of curvilinear motion, creep in wood and hydrodynamics of vortices and the gravitational sling.

• Hesiod
• Homer
• Mycenaean era
• Troja
• ancient Greek technology
• automation
• historical machines

• School of Engineering, University of Patras, Patras, Greece

  S. A. Paipetis

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