The vending machine is now a common sight and an integral part of modern life, but its basic concept dates back to the 1st century AD, when the machinery behind it was first invented by an ancient Greek engineer.
That engineer was Heron of Alexandria—“of Alexandria” functioning as a kind of surname at the time, since a person’s birthplace or residence often served to identify them. Heron (also known as Hero) was a prolific mathematician and engineer who pioneered the first pneumatic machines, devices powered by compressed air. Among his many creations was the earliest known coin-operated vending machine.
Regarding the time of Heron’s birth and lifetime, the opinions of scholars vary, ranging from 50 to 250 AD. Usually the time of birth or time of the active lifetime of a significant person is determined by scholars based on significant events that took place within a time frame or the reign of a king at the time.
In Heron’s case, the approximate dates of his birth and active lifetime are not recorded directly but are inferred from references of other writers. One key source is Lucius Junius Moderatus Columella, a Roman soldier and agricultural writer who composed texts around 62 AD.
Columella described measurements of plane figures that correspond closely with formulas used by Heron, noting, for example, his calculations for the equilateral triangle, the regular hexagon, and the segment of a circle smaller than a semicircle. He wrote of:
“…measurements of plane figures which agree with the formulas used by Heron, notably those for the equilateral triangle, the regular hexagon (in this case not only the formula but the actual figures agree with Heron’s) and the segment of a circle which is less than a semicircle.”
Based on this evidence, scholars deduce that Heron must have been active in the mid-first century. As a result, his life is generally placed as beginning in Alexandria around 10 AD and ending around 75 AD.
A vending machine for holy water, created by an ancient Greek
The ancient Greek engineer Heron of Alexandria, who invented the first vending machine, was commissioned by an Egyptian temple to build an apparatus that could dispense a specific amount of holy water from a cistern whenever a coin was inserted.
The way Heron’s vending machine worked was that the worshiper would place a coin in a slot, and the coin would fall onto a pan attached to a lever which was balanced on a guide. The weight of the coin caused the lever to tilt, raising the opposite end and opening a valve. The valve allowed a specific amount of holy water to flow out. The coin would then eventually slide off the lever into a collection chamber, causing the lever to return to its resting position and close the valve.
Heron of Alexandria began to focus on the practical applications of mathematics, rather than concentrating solely on numerical relationships and abstract, esoteric laws.
The ancient Greek engineer can legitimately be called a “Father of Physics” because he set aside pure reasoning and theory to focus on empirical experiments. This marked a clear break from the deductive approach followed by earlier mathematicians.
Heron invented a variety of machines and mechanical devices, demonstrating how theoretical knowledge could be applied to practical use. In addition to the holy water dispenser, he created a water organ, the Aeolipile—a steam-powered device—and Heron’s Fountain, which used air pressure to produce a jet of water. Among his other inventions are the Dioptra, a surveying instrument similar to binoculars, a fire engine, and even a primitive programmable robot, or automaton.
These inventions reveal a man of relentless creativity and passion, grounded in his deep knowledge of mathematical principles. Along with Archimedes, he moved beyond philosophy to focus on the laws of physics, creating useful machines through hands-on experimentation.
Writings of Heron
Heron, the ancient Greek who invented the vending machine, did not focus solely on practical devices like the vending machine or the Aeolipile. He also authored several books on technical, mechanical, and mathematical subjects. Some of his surviving works include:
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On the Dioptra — This work covers a precision optical instrument used for measuring angles between designated visible points in horizontal and vertical planes. One chapter on astronomy presents a method for calculating the distance between Alexandria and Rome using the difference in local times at which a lunar eclipse is observed in each city.
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Pneumatica (two books) — This is an extensive study of mechanical devices powered by air, steam, or water pressure. The vending machine is one of the devices described in these books.
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Automaton Theater — This text describes a puppet theater in which the puppeteer operates figures using strings, drums, and weights.
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Belopoeica — This work explains the construction of war engines. It is similar to the works of Philo and shares some similarities with the Roman architect and engineer Vitruvius, who lived in the 1st century BC.
- Catoptrica — This book deals with mirrors. Some historians attribute it to Ptolemy, but most believe it is an original work of Heron. In this text, Heron states that vision results from light rays emitted by the eyes, which he believed traveled at infinite speed.
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Mechanica (three books) — Written for architects, this series consists of: Metrica, a book which outlines methods of measurement, including lengths, areas, and volumes; Definitiones, which contains 133 definitions of geometrical terms, beginning with points, lines, and other fundamental elements; and Geometria, which is largely based on examples and serves as a practical application of Metrica.
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Related works associated with measurement and mechanics, such as Stereometrica, which focuses on measures of three-dimensional objects and is partly based on Metrica but was likely modified or expanded by later editors; Mensurae, which covers a variety of measurements and is connected with parts of Stereometrica and Metrica, though it was primarily composed by a later author.
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