This Info Spot is dedicated to a renowned mathematician, physicist, and engineer Heron (also known as Hero) of Alexandria. In celebration of this inventor of mechanical water fountains Your Home Serenity is offering 10% off all serenity fountains purchased before Nov. 1^st 2009.

Heron of Alexandria although heavily debated is believed based upon the chronologist’s Clinton to live somewheres around B.C 117 – 81. His origins are believed to be Greek and his works originating in Alexandria. His style of writing and other writing of its time seem to allude that Heron studied under Ctesibius. His famous writing “The Pneumatics” is one of the earliest writings that contain his famous water fountains. He depicts and details fountains that make birds sing, trumpets sound, and fountains powered by the sun. In addition he created a water clock that governed the quantity of liquid often times wine.

Heron in the beginning of his writing “The Pneumatics” state that “Pneuma” is simply “Air in motion”. He goes on to argue that macroscopic regions of vacuum cannot exist in nature but can be produced artificially and goes on to explain that the natural distribution of particles and void in air can be changed in both directions by external forces. He made the assumption that air is composed of minute particles. This thinking amazingly was 1500 years ahead of his time!

Most of Heron's writings and designs were destroyed back around the 4th century by anti pagan Christians. His works were housed in the Library of Alexandria that burnt to the ground. Fortunately for us some writings and references survived in Arab writings.

 May we suggest following the URL  http://www.history.rochester.edu/steam/hero/index.html to read "The Pneumatics of Hero of Alexandria" translated and edited by Bennett WoodCroft.