Herodotus Machine
A lifting device described by Herodotus for pyramid construction.
The ancient Greek historian Herodotus wrote about a machine he claimed helped the ancient Egyptians build the pyramids by lifting heavy stones. He likely saw this device during a trip to Egypt. Since no detailed plans or reliable records of the machine exist, it has sparked many theories among historians about how the pyramids were constructed.
While Herodotus sometimes exaggerated or invented stories, scholars generally trust this account because his descriptions of Egypt are otherwise reasonable. Travel between Greek city-states and Egypt was common in his time, and Herodotus probably spoke with locals about the method.
In his *Histories*, Herodotus explains that the pyramid was built in steps. Workers used machines made of short wooden planks to raise stones from the ground to the first step. Another machine then moved the stone to the second step, and a third lifted it higher. He notes that there may have been as many machines as steps, or just one that was moved upward as work progressed. The top of the pyramid was finished first, then the middle, and finally the bottom.
Centuries later, Leonardo da Vinci sketched a machine based on Herodotus’ description. According to Gabriele Niccolai, Leonardo’s design worked by swinging a large stone over a central fulcrum, allowing workers to insert a short plank underneath. Repeating this process lifted the stone to the desired height. Later images of the machine rely on da Vinci’s sketches, but no drawing can claim to show the original device exactly.
- field
- Ancient construction technology
- known_for
- Described by Herodotus as a machine for lifting pyramid stones
- source
- Herodotus, *Histories*
Lore & Background
Herodotus is believed to have encountered the device while traveling through Egypt. He is suspected of having embellished – or made up entirely – some of his historical accounts, but scholars generally accept this particular account as Herodotus provides otherwise reasonable accounts of Egypt; further, it would have been quite possible for someone living in Halicarnassus to safely and easily travel to Egypt during Herodotus' lifetime. Trade existed between the Greek City States and the kingdom of Egypt. In Egypt Herodotus is thought to have conversed with locals on the matter.
Reader's Guide
Herodotus provides a description of the process in *Histories*. The pyramid was built in steps, battlement-wise, as it is called, or, according to others, altar-wise. After laying the stones for the base, they raised the remaining stones to their places by means of machines formed of short wooden planks. The first machine raised them from the ground to the top of the first step. On this there was another machine, which received the stone upon its arrival and conveyed it to the second step, whence a third machine advanced it still higher. Either they had as many machines as there were steps in the pyramid, or possibly they had but a single machine, which, being easily moved, was transferred from tier to tier as the stone rose – both accounts are given and therefore Herodotus mentions both. The upper portion of the Pyramid was finished first, then the middle and finally the part which was lowest and nearest to the ground. Leonardo da Vinci is believed to have sketched a machine based on Herodotus' description. Later depictions are premised upon da Vinci's sketches in the Codex Madrid. Visual depictions cannot authoritatively claim to represent Herodotus' machine.
Did You Know?
- Herodotus is believed to have encountered the device while traveling through Egypt.
- Leonardo da Vinci sketched a machine based on Herodotus' description in the Codex Atlanticus and Madrid I Codex.
- The machine was formed of short wooden planks.
- Herodotus mentions two accounts: either multiple machines for each step or a single movable machine.
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