Al Jazari (1136 - 1206)
Al -Jazari, who lived in the Islamic Golden Age, was born in 1132 CE. He was an Arab Muslim scholar and polymath who also was gifted with other talents. These talents included being a skilled inventor, artist, craftsman, and engineer. Nothing much was known about his life other than what he writes in his books but he became known widely for his invention of the Elephant Water Clock. Al-Jazari had his interests in the functional aspect of things and was brilliant in mechanical engineering. He had designed more than 50 devices that included fountains, musical devices, machines for raising water and many more. In 1206, a famous book Jazari wrote titled, “The book of knowledge of Ingenious Mechanical Devices” was presented to the king as a gift. In the book, it showed that he designed and described over 100 mechanical devices that can be used for entertainment.
For his famous invention that was made 800 years ago, the Elephant Water Clock, not only tells time but is also a pioneering robotic machine and a beautiful sculpture. The clock was made up of symbolic animals. The elephant symbolizes pride and royalty, the phoenix, rebirth and life, and the serpent symbolizes power and strong defiance. This clock can be said that it is similar to a grandfather clock that we know today.
For his famous invention that was made 800 years ago, the Elephant Water Clock, not only tells time but is also a pioneering robotic machine and a beautiful sculpture. The clock was made up of symbolic animals. The elephant symbolizes pride and royalty, the phoenix, rebirth and life, and the serpent symbolizes power and strong defiance. This clock can be said that it is similar to a grandfather clock that we know today.
Sources:
https://www.thetech.org/sites/default/files/activity_6.pdf
http://www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/SultansofScience.aspx
http://events.nationalgeographic.com/media/files/1001_elementary_BW_new-1.pdf
http://www.1001inventions.com/media/video/clock
https://thequranfoundation.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/al-jaziris-mechnical-marvels-which-revolutionized-engineering-4/
http://www.famousinventors.org/al-jazari
https://www.thetech.org/sites/default/files/activity_6.pdf
http://www.science.edu.sg/exhibitions/Pages/SultansofScience.aspx
http://events.nationalgeographic.com/media/files/1001_elementary_BW_new-1.pdf
http://www.1001inventions.com/media/video/clock
https://thequranfoundation.wordpress.com/2012/06/09/al-jaziris-mechnical-marvels-which-revolutionized-engineering-4/
http://www.famousinventors.org/al-jazari