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Hero of Alexandria facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Hero (or Heron) of Alexandria (Greek: Ἥρων ὁ Ἀλεξανδρεύς) (c. 10–70 AD) was an ancient Greek mathematician and engineer. He lived and worked in Alexandria when Alexander the Great ruled. He is known for for his inventions and experiments. One of his well known inventions was the Aeolipile (a simple steam turbine). He also discovered a way to calculate square roots, and Heron's formula for finding the area of a triangle.

Cajori says "Hero was a practical surveyor, so it is not surprising to find little resemblance between his writing and those of Euclid or Apollonius".



Images for kids

  • Hero - De automatis, 1589 - 116959

    The book About automata by Hero of Alexandria (1589 edition)

  • Aeolipile illustration

    Hero's aeolipile

  • Heron's Windwheel

    Hero's wind-powered organ (reconstruction)

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