Eupalinos

Tunnel of Eupalinos
Entrance of tunnel

Eupalinos (Ancient Greek: Εὐπαλῖνος) or Eupalinus of Megara was an ancient Greek engineer who built the Tunnel of Eupalinos on Samos Island[1]: 27 [2] in the late 6th century BC[1]: 27 . Though the construction of the tunnel has been attributed to the tyrant Polycrates of Samos[1]: 27 , it is now considered to be a later construction and having been built between 550 and 530 BC[3]: 149 . In any case, the tunnel was, and is, regarded as a major feat of engineering[3]: 149 .

The tunnel 1,036 m (3,399 ft) long[citation needed] conveyed water from a spring near Mount Kastro through the mountain into the ancient city of Samos (modern Pythagoreio)[3]: 149 [1]: 27 . It was the longest one of its time[citation needed] and it still exists. The tunnel was excavated from both ends[1]: 27 [4]: 173 , but it is not the first one known to be built in this manner -- a tunnel channeling water to Jerusalem was built from both ends at the same time earlier, in the 8th century BC[4]: 173 .

The route of the tunnel does not follow a direct line -- for several hundred meters on both ends it does follow a straight line, but in the middle third there are several turns[1]: 29 [3]: 150 . Additionally, the tunnel has two parts: A main tunnel and a trench running along the left side of the main tunnel[1]: 27 . The main tunnel is 1.8 m × 1.8 m (5.9 ft × 5.9 ft) square in cross-section[1]: 27 . And, while the main tunnel is horizontal, the trench gets progressively deeper with an average gradient of 0.4% and gets from 3.5 to 8.5 m (11 to 28 ft) deep[1]: 28 [3]: 150 . On the bottom of the trench ran terracotta pipeline carrying the water[1]: 27 [3]: 149 .

Eupalinos is considered the first hydraulic engineer in history whose name has been passed down. Apart from that, though, nothing more is known about him.[5]

Efpalinos Tunnel, a road tunnel built under the Geraneia mountains in Corinthia and completed in 2017, is named after Eupalinos.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Hodge, Trevor A. Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply. 61 Frith Street, London WlD 3JL: Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-7156-3171-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Herodotus (1920). "3.60.3". Histories. Vol. 2. Translated by Godley, A. D. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Harry B. Evans (1999). "Review of Die Wasserleitung des Eupalinos auf Samos by Hermann J. Kienast". American Journal of Archaeology. 103 (1).
  4. ^ a b Alfred Burns (1971). "The Tunnel of Eupalinus and the Tunnel Problem of Hero of Alexandria". Isis. 62 (2).
  5. ^ Tom Apostol, p.33

Further reading

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