Uses of Screws in Ancient Civilizations
The term "screw" is used to describe any kind of cylindrical object with grooved threads around the outside edge, allowing it to securely fasten objects together, drill into certain materials or move water or other materials. The screw is an ancient invention that dates back thousands of years. While today it seems ubiquitous, the technology of the screw was only used in a handful of applications in the ancient world.
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Water Pump/Screw
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One of the Seven Wonders of the World was the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, which was considered impressive because they flourished in a desert. Archimedes is credited by some with inventing the water screw, which was used to irrigate the gardens. The water screw, a long cylinder with grooves around the edges, was used to transport water. The tool was operated by a hand crank on one end that turned the screw, thereby drawing water up the length of the shaft.
Pressing Oil and Wine
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Wine and oil presses that operated with a screw mechanism began to spring up all over the ancient Near East in places such as modern day Greece and Israel around the first century AD.
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Bone Drills
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Surgeons in ancient Rome often employed a bone drill that operated in a manner not unlike today's corkscrew. These tools were used to drill into bone to remove diseased tissue or bone shards.
Speculum
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Vaginal and anal speculums recovered from ancient Roman settlements reveal the use of a screw-like mechanism. Speculums are used to allow doctors to insert tools into these areas of the body in order to fully examine their patients. Speculums are still used to during annual pap smears. Of course, modern speculums have evolved greatly since ancient times.
The Inventors
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Historians are divided on who invented the screw. While Archimedes is generally credited with the water screw, it is thought that the Greek mathematician Archytas developed the first screw sometime around 400 BCE.
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