Hero of Alexandria
~10–70 CE · Greek (Alexandria) · Roman Empire
Known for: Invented the first steam engine (aeolipile), vending machine, and programmable automata
Hero was a practical engineer who invented automatic doors, a wind-powered organ, the first vending machine (for holy water), and the aeolipile—a steam-powered spinning sphere that was the first device to convert steam into rotary motion.
He was more interested in theatrical effects and temple tricks than industrial applications. The steam engine was a toy. Humanity had to wait 1,700 years for someone to make it useful.
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