318 LETTERS ON NATURAL MAGIC. 



from running away. Aristotle speaks of a wooden Venus, 

 which moved about in consequence of quicksilver being 

 poured into its interior; but Callistratus. the tutor of 

 Demosthenes, states with some probability, that the statues 

 of Daedalus received their motion from the mechanical 

 powers. Beckmann is of opinion that the statues of 

 Daedalus differed only from those of the early Greeks and 

 Egyptians in having their eyes open and their feet and 

 hands free, and that the reclining posture of some, and the 

 attitude of others, " as if ready to walk," gave rise to the 

 exaggeration that they possessed the power of locomotion. 

 This opinion, however, cannot be maintained with any 

 show of reason ; for if we apply such a principle in one 

 case, we must apply it in all, and the mind would be left 

 in a state of utter scepticism respecting the inventions of 

 ancient times. 



We are informed by Aulus Gellius, on the authority of 

 Favorinus, that Archytas of Tarentum, who flourished 

 about 400 years before Christ, constructed a wooden pigeon 

 which was capable of flying. Favorinus relates, that when 

 it had once alighted, it could not again resume its flight, 

 and Aulus Gellius adds, that it was suspended by balancing, 

 and animated by a concealed aura or spirit. 



Among the earliest pieces of modern mechanism was 

 the curious water-clock presented to Charlemagne by the 

 Kaliph Harun al Easchid. In the dial-plate there were 

 twelve small windows corresponding with the divisions of 

 the hours. The hours were indicated by the opening of 

 the windows, which let out little metallic balls, which 

 struck the hour by falling upon a brazen bell. The doors 

 continued open till twelve o'clock, when twelve little 

 knights, mounted on horseback, came out at the same 

 instant, and after parading round the dial, shut all the 

 windows and returned to their apartments.* 

 * Annales Loisiliani. Anno 807. 



