4480) “GREEK CULTURE - ANCIENT GREEK TECHNOLOGY - THE HYDRAULIS OF KTESIBIOS:, "Hellenic Republic (Ελληνική Δηομκρατία) of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued a 10€ Silver Coin minted by Bank of Greece (IETA – Νομισματοκοπείο): Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026: (IETA – Νομισματοκοπείο): Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026:
The Greeks had an eventful and tumultuous history, littered with wars, foreign invasions and conquests, until they founded the modern Greek state in the 19th century. They managed to navigate these turbulent waters, maintain their language and survive as a nation over the millennia because they have always prized military valour, one of the cardinal virtues of a Greek across time. No wonder, Greek history is full of examples of heroism and glory.
Greek, and admittedly all of European, literature starts with Homer’s Iliad, an epic almost 16 thousand verses long that celebrates the “glorious deeds of heroes”.
The plot gets rolling with a quarrel between the Greek commander-in-chief in the Trojan War, Agamemnon, and his most formidable fighter, Achilles, who was raised on the precept “always to be the bravest and to surpass all others”. Achilles’ wrath is the first theme in our new series of gold coins dedicated to Homer’s Iliad.
The Wrath of Achilles:
Hercules, the greatest Greek hero, is the theme of a new series of collector silver coins dedicated to The labours of Hercules, to be issued in puzzle coin sets.
The Labours of Hercules:
The series starts with three coins that piece together to tell the story of the first three labours: the killing of the Nemean lion and the Lernaean Hydra and the capture of the Ceryneian hind.
Heinrich Schliemann, polyglot, millionaire, adventurer and visionary, made it the purpose of his life to prove that Homer’s world had indeed existed. One hundred and fifty years ago, after unearthing Troy, he began excavations at Mycenae. The most spectacular among his finds was the “Mask of Agamemnon”, as Schliemann named it, believing to have found the grave of the legendary king. This exquisite artifact is depicted on this year’s coin in our Cultural heritage series.
The Mask of Agamemnon:
The 1820s, the decade when the Greeks fought for and won their independence, abounds in acts of heroism, glory, and often sacrifice. An unparalleled example is the Exodus of Messolonghi, to which we dedicate both a silver collector and a 2-euro circulation coin to mark the bicentennial of the event.
Together we honour with a silver coin the Swiss philhellene Johann Jakob Meyer, father of Greek journalism, who was killed during the Exodus (Philhellenes series). Memories of the heroic last stand of the defenders of the Sacred City of Messolonghi haunt the region of Aetolia-Acarnania this year’s theme of our Tourism series.
200 Years from the Exodus of Messolonghi:
Tourism - Aetolia-Acarnania:
Ioannis Kapodistrias, who is portrayed on our most precious coin in this year’s programme, was a diplomat of international renown who helped the Greek Revolution in its vulnerable first phase and later made the first serious state-building effort as Governor of Greece.
Like every war, the Greek Revolution produced not only heroes, but also victims among the civilian population, including refugees.
To these people we turn ourattention with a silver coin dedicated to 200 hundred years from the naming of Hermoupolis. Built on the island of Syros by refugees from several places devastated by the Turks, the new city thrived thanks to commerce and industry, becoming the gem of the Cyclades.
Turning to our long-standing series, we are issuing silver coins that feature Aristarchos of Samos, the first proponent of the heliocentric theory (in the Mathematicians series), and the hydraulis of Ktesibios, the first ever keyboard instrument (in our Ancient Greek technology series).
Link to post on Aristarchos on this Blog:
The Hydraulis of Ktesibios:
Next in our Endangered fauna of Greece series is the Milos viper (Macrovipera schweizeri), the most threatened reptile species in Greece.
One of the best known animal fables is the Lion and the mouse, which features on this year’s coin in our Aesop’s fables series.
We are also launching a new series dedicated to the lighthouses of Greece, starting with the Tourlitis lighthouse of Andros.
The Tourlitis Lighthouse of Andros:
Finally, we celebrate important anniversaries by a silver coin commemorating 150 years from the invention of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell and a 2-euro circulation coin to mark 100 years from the foundation of the Academy of Athens, guardian of the Greek language and culture.
I will keep on adding the links to my posts of the Greek Coinage this year to keep the visitors abreast with the stories.
GREEK CULTURE - ANCIENT
GREEK TECHNOLOGY
THE HYDRAULIS OF KTESIBIOS:
The hydraulis is the earliest keyboard instrument. It was invented by Ktesibios of Alexandria (3rd century BC), who noticed that sounds are generated by air as it is pushed by water along a pipe and forced out.
The hydraulis of Ktesibios consisted of a water tank, air pumps, a keyboard, and pipes of varying lengths.
It is described by Hero of Alexandria in his Pneumatics and by Vitruvius in On architecture, but we also have the remains of a bronze hydraulis dating to the 1st century BC, found in the excavations at Dion.
The prodct of collaboration between archaeologists and musicologists, a reconstructed hydraulis sounded again at the European Cultural Centre of Delphi in 1999.
The hydraulis was used by the Romans and later the Byzantines, who replaced the hydraulic mechanism with bellows, making it a portable wind instrument called the organon.
Sent as a royal gift to the Frank kings Pepin and Charlemagne, the Byzantine portable pneumatic organ was introduced in Western Europe, where it evolved into the church organ, a mainstay of Western liturgical music.
The Reverse of the 10€ (Ten Euro) Silver Coin presents the hydraulis of Ktesibios.
The design is based on a reconstruction by the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology.
Design and Symbolism:
Shield: Blue background with a white cross, representing the Greek flag and the Christian faith.
Laurel branches: Traditionally green, but often depicted in monochrome blue for official use. Gold laurel leaves are used in military insignia and on the presidential standard.
Cross: Symbolises the role of Christianity in Greek identity and independence.
More about Ctesibius
or Ktesibios or Tesibius (Ancient Greek: Κτησίβιος; fl. 285–222 BCE) who was a
Greek inventor and mathematician in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt:
Very little is known of Ctesibius' life, but his inventions were well known in his lifetime. He was likely the first head of the Museum of Alexandria.
He wrote the first treatises on the science of compressed air and its uses in pumps (and even in a kind of cannon).
This, in combination with his work on pneumatics on the elasticity of air, earned him the title of "father of pneumatics".
None of his written work has survived, including his Memorabilia, a compilation of his research that was cited by Athenaeus.
Reconstruction of Ctesibius' hydraulis at the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, in Athens, Greece:
During this first career, he invented a counterweight-adjustable mirror.
Reconstruction of Ctesibius' hydraulis at the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology, in Athens, Greece.
Another of his inventions was the hydraulis, a water organ that is considered the precursor of the modern pipe organ and the first keyboard instrument.
He and his wife Thais were reputed to be highly-skilled players of the instrument.
It is believed that he improved the hydraulics by forcing air though the pipes using the weight of water, instead of using falling lead weights.
He improved the water clock or clepsydra ('water thief'), which before the improvement was inaccurate because the flow of water could not be correctly regulated and made for an inaccurate time.
For more than 1,800 years, the water clock was the most accurate clock ever constructed, until the Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens' invention of the pendulum clock in 1656.
Ctesibius described one of the first force pumps for producing a jet of water, or for lifting water from wells.
Examples have been found at various Roman sites, such as at Silchester in Britain. The principle of the siphon has also been attributed to him.
He is also believed to have invented an air-powered catapult with his knowledge of compressed air. His inventions are only known from references by Vitruvius and Hero of Alexandria, but they acted as base for engineering works from Hero of Alexandria and Philo of Byzantium.
Ctesibius's work is chronicled by Vitruvius, Athenaeus, Pliny the Elder, and Philo of Byzantium who repeatedly mention him, adding that the first mechanicians such as Ctesibius had the advantage of being under kings who loved fame and supported the arts. Proclus (the commentator on Euclid) and Hero of Alexandria also mention him.
In modern times, while Ctesibius isn't as well known as some other inventors of his age, he is recognised as an inventor who laid the foundation for future technological advances and engineering developments.
He was recognised for his work with pneumatics to be given the title "the father of pneumatics" and his inventions have been improved upon to be used in important modern day uses.
The specifications of this Coin are:
Coin Title: "The “GREEK CULTURE - ANCIENT GREEK TECHNOLOGY: THE HYDRAULIS OF KTESIBIOS:"
Year of Issue: 2026
Mint: Bank of Greece (IETA – Νομισματοκοπείο)
Denomination: 10€
DIAMETER: 40.00 mm
WEIGHT: 34.10 gr
Metal Composition: Silver (Ag) 92.5%
EDGE: Plain
Packaging: Wooden box with Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
MAXIMUM Mintage: 2,000 pieces
Mintmark: Palmette symbol of the Greek Mint.
Edge: Plain
Numismatic Programme: 2026
Designer: G. Stamatopoulos
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
37) "200 Years from the Exodus of Messolonghi": A dramatic event during the Greek War of Independence (1821-1829), Hellenic Republic of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued a 2 Euro Commemorative Bimetallic Coin remembering the martyrs of the Exodus: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026ublic of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued a 100 Euro Gold Proof Coin depicting this famous scene from Homer's Iliad: Date/Year of Coin issue: 2026
38) The Wrath of Achilles, The Abduction of Briseis, "Hellenic Rep39) The Labours of Hercules", Hellenic Republic of Greece: The Bank of Greece (BOG) has issued three coins minted by the Bank of Greece depicting three of Hercules' Labours: Date/Year of Coin set issue: 2026
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
Other interesting posts on Greek Coinage and Commemorative Coins:
2) Some ancient coins depicting Greek mythology & history
13) Ancient Greek Theatres, Greece: Hellenic Post has brought out a set of five stamps featuring the Ancient Theatres of Dodona, Nocopolis, Kassope, Amvrakia and Gitana (all in Epirus): Stamp issue date: 08.04.2020
14) "MYRTIS", Greece: A 5 Euro Silver Coin dedicated to an 11 year old girl who was a victim of the Plague of Athens (430-426 BC) issued by the Bank of Greece: Coin issue date: 25.02.2020
Links to some more posts on the Chinese Lunar calendar/Zodiac signs on this Blog:
