Emperor Julian
Active member
55 AD- Emperor Nero is presented with an Aeophile, a small steam driven toy invented by the Greek philosopher Heron. Intrigued, Nero asks Heron (who resides in Egypt), what else the tiny toy can do.
56 AD- Heron presents a series of tiny models demonstrating various uses for steam power, including opening doors, moving a "Force Pump" automatically, and traveling across the floor as part of a cart. Impressed, Nero asks if larger versions were possible. Heron returns to Egypt to consult with other scholars at Library of Alexandria.
61 AD- Heron comes to the conclusion that a force pump can be combined with steam pressure to more efficiently harness its energy. Steam is created in a boiler and then channeled to the pump. The pressure pushes the pump out, thus moving a lever or turning a wheel. Counter weights push the pump back down to receive another push of steam. This more efficient design is attached to a small cart capable of moving a man and presented to the Emperor. Nero is very impressed but points out that these devices are not needed due to abundance of slave labor. However, sees potential to further enhance the culture and prestige of Rome and his own court. The Emperor orders a few private devices produced for the purpose of impressing visiting dignitaries or the populace.
62 AD- Before completing the Emperor's projects, Heron dies of old age. Out of respect for the beloved mentor and teacher, his students decide to finish the order placed by Nero in Heron's honor.
64 AD- The first of the Emperor's mechanical marvels arrive in Rome. Emperor Nero, however, cancels the presentation to handle another affair of estate, forcing the students to wait nearly a week for another opening in his schedule. Rather than waiting in the palace, a leading Patrician suggests the group bring their devices and stay at his estate near Palatine hill. The group graciously accepts and caustiously escorts the cloth draped wagons across Rome to the luxurious estate. After a night of revelry, the Patrician asks to be shown the Emperor's new toys, to which the students, pleased with their work and very intoxicated, gladly comply.
Despite their compromised state of mind, the students and their hosts succeeded in unpacking and setting up the machines in a little under two hours. Slaves were then ordered to set fires to the boilers before being dismissed so that the work could be undertaken directly by the young scholars.
What followed is not completely clear, what is known is that a massive explosion rocked the afluent neighborhood in the early hours of the morning. The blast demolished part of the Patrician's home and instantly killed most of those standing nearby. The shock of the blast toppled oil lamps and other flamible goods which soon ignited the scattered timbers and debris from the blast.
Quickly the fire spreads, destroying or severly damaging most of the city of Rome. Nero, who had been away at the time of the fire, rushed back to Rome and began helping the victims in any way he could, paying for costs out of his own funds. Despite his acts of charity, rhumors begin to spread about Nero setting the fire himself in order to make room for a new palace, to which Nero responds by persecuting Christians for the disaster.
At least one person at the party, however, was aware of the truth. One of the attendees that night was a wealthy aristocrat and amateur scholar by the name of Polonius. Polonius had stepped away from the demonstration to use the rest room and was partially shielding from the blast. After the resulting fire, he attempted to make contact with Nero and explain what had happened but soon began to fear he would be punished and changed his mind. Slowly the fear that he would be discovered and fed to the lions along with the Christians gnawed at him until at last he decided to leave the city all together.
Rather fleeing to Greece or one of the frontier provinces, Polonius decided to go to Alexandria to perhaps help Heron with his creations. He had seen what steam could do and felt that was a field with potential. Upon arriving, however, he discovered the great scientist had passed away and his workshop was closed. Dismayed, he offered the library a large sum of money if he could take over Heron's projects. The Library agreed so long as any commercial application that arose from Heron's work be the property of the Library. Polonius, who was more interested in hiding for a while than finding fame and fortune, accepts and pays one of Heron's former students, Braxis, to return and assist him.
68 AD- Nero's death sparks a brief civil war.
69 AD- While in Alexandria, the new Emperor, Vespasian, tours the Library and takes note of a small steam powered cart exiting a building and knocking over displays erected to commemorate his visit. Although the Emperor's guides are quick to dismiss the incident and downplay one of their lesser known scholars, he is intrigued and asks to see the cart's creator.
Polonius, covered in soot and sweat, is of an aristocratic background and quickly begins wooing the new Emperor with displays of technical wizardry, most of which he admits are Heron's work. The Emperor is impressed and asks how these marvels might be harnessed to the benefit of the Empire. Polonius paints a vivid image of steam carts pulling wagons of goods and steam ships crisscrossing the Mediterranean but finally finds traction with his idea to improve irrigation and farming using steam powered pumps.
While aqueducts moved water over great distances, they only went down hill. The ability to move large amounts of water uphill potentially opened additional farm land to cultivation, lessoning Roman dependence on Egyptian grain. Given the Emperor's visit was due, at least in part, to problems with Egyptian grain, this possibility, while outlandish, was compelling.
Emperor Vespasian orders work to be done in this area and requests prototypes within a year.
56 AD- Heron presents a series of tiny models demonstrating various uses for steam power, including opening doors, moving a "Force Pump" automatically, and traveling across the floor as part of a cart. Impressed, Nero asks if larger versions were possible. Heron returns to Egypt to consult with other scholars at Library of Alexandria.
61 AD- Heron comes to the conclusion that a force pump can be combined with steam pressure to more efficiently harness its energy. Steam is created in a boiler and then channeled to the pump. The pressure pushes the pump out, thus moving a lever or turning a wheel. Counter weights push the pump back down to receive another push of steam. This more efficient design is attached to a small cart capable of moving a man and presented to the Emperor. Nero is very impressed but points out that these devices are not needed due to abundance of slave labor. However, sees potential to further enhance the culture and prestige of Rome and his own court. The Emperor orders a few private devices produced for the purpose of impressing visiting dignitaries or the populace.
62 AD- Before completing the Emperor's projects, Heron dies of old age. Out of respect for the beloved mentor and teacher, his students decide to finish the order placed by Nero in Heron's honor.
64 AD- The first of the Emperor's mechanical marvels arrive in Rome. Emperor Nero, however, cancels the presentation to handle another affair of estate, forcing the students to wait nearly a week for another opening in his schedule. Rather than waiting in the palace, a leading Patrician suggests the group bring their devices and stay at his estate near Palatine hill. The group graciously accepts and caustiously escorts the cloth draped wagons across Rome to the luxurious estate. After a night of revelry, the Patrician asks to be shown the Emperor's new toys, to which the students, pleased with their work and very intoxicated, gladly comply.
Despite their compromised state of mind, the students and their hosts succeeded in unpacking and setting up the machines in a little under two hours. Slaves were then ordered to set fires to the boilers before being dismissed so that the work could be undertaken directly by the young scholars.
What followed is not completely clear, what is known is that a massive explosion rocked the afluent neighborhood in the early hours of the morning. The blast demolished part of the Patrician's home and instantly killed most of those standing nearby. The shock of the blast toppled oil lamps and other flamible goods which soon ignited the scattered timbers and debris from the blast.
Quickly the fire spreads, destroying or severly damaging most of the city of Rome. Nero, who had been away at the time of the fire, rushed back to Rome and began helping the victims in any way he could, paying for costs out of his own funds. Despite his acts of charity, rhumors begin to spread about Nero setting the fire himself in order to make room for a new palace, to which Nero responds by persecuting Christians for the disaster.
At least one person at the party, however, was aware of the truth. One of the attendees that night was a wealthy aristocrat and amateur scholar by the name of Polonius. Polonius had stepped away from the demonstration to use the rest room and was partially shielding from the blast. After the resulting fire, he attempted to make contact with Nero and explain what had happened but soon began to fear he would be punished and changed his mind. Slowly the fear that he would be discovered and fed to the lions along with the Christians gnawed at him until at last he decided to leave the city all together.
Rather fleeing to Greece or one of the frontier provinces, Polonius decided to go to Alexandria to perhaps help Heron with his creations. He had seen what steam could do and felt that was a field with potential. Upon arriving, however, he discovered the great scientist had passed away and his workshop was closed. Dismayed, he offered the library a large sum of money if he could take over Heron's projects. The Library agreed so long as any commercial application that arose from Heron's work be the property of the Library. Polonius, who was more interested in hiding for a while than finding fame and fortune, accepts and pays one of Heron's former students, Braxis, to return and assist him.
68 AD- Nero's death sparks a brief civil war.
69 AD- While in Alexandria, the new Emperor, Vespasian, tours the Library and takes note of a small steam powered cart exiting a building and knocking over displays erected to commemorate his visit. Although the Emperor's guides are quick to dismiss the incident and downplay one of their lesser known scholars, he is intrigued and asks to see the cart's creator.
Polonius, covered in soot and sweat, is of an aristocratic background and quickly begins wooing the new Emperor with displays of technical wizardry, most of which he admits are Heron's work. The Emperor is impressed and asks how these marvels might be harnessed to the benefit of the Empire. Polonius paints a vivid image of steam carts pulling wagons of goods and steam ships crisscrossing the Mediterranean but finally finds traction with his idea to improve irrigation and farming using steam powered pumps.
While aqueducts moved water over great distances, they only went down hill. The ability to move large amounts of water uphill potentially opened additional farm land to cultivation, lessoning Roman dependence on Egyptian grain. Given the Emperor's visit was due, at least in part, to problems with Egyptian grain, this possibility, while outlandish, was compelling.
Emperor Vespasian orders work to be done in this area and requests prototypes within a year.