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[[File:Aqueduct of Eupalinos.jpg|thumb|Entrance of tunnel]]
[[File:Aqueduct of Eupalinos.jpg|thumb|Entrance of tunnel]]


'''Eupalinos''' ({{langx|grc|Εὐπαλῖνος}}) or '''Eupalinus''' of [[Megara]] was an [[ancient Greek]] engineer who built the [[Tunnel of Eupalinos]] on [[Samos Island]] in the 6th century BC.
'''Eupalinos''' ({{langx|grc|Εὐπαλῖνος}}) or '''Eupalinus''' of [[Megara]] was an [[ancient Greek]] engineer who built the [[Tunnel of Eupalinos]] on [[Samos Island]] in the 6th century BC. The construction of the tunnel was an undertaking for the tyrant [[Polycrates of Samos]]{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}.


The Tunnel, completed in the late 6th century BC{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}, presumably between 550 and 530 BC,<ref>Harry B. Evans, Review of Hermann Kienast, p.150</ref> was {{convert|1,036|m|ft|sp=us}} long. It was the longest one of its time{{citation needed|reason=Was it really? Who says so, and where?|date=17-12-2024}} and it still exists. Water was brought to the city, passing through limestone at the base of a hill. The construction was an undertaking for the tyrant [[Polycrates of Samos]]{{r|hodge1992|p=27}} and it is regarded as a major feat of ancient engineering{{citation needed|reason=By whom? Do I consider it as a major feat of ancient engineering? Perhaps. Do you?|date=17-12-2024}}. It is the second known tunnel in history which was excavated from both ends and the first with a methodical approach in doing so.<ref>The oldest known tunnel which was dug by two teams from opposite ends was [[Siloam tunnel]] in Jerusalem, completed around 700 BC. However, numerous false starts in wrong directions, which took the tunnel {{convert|1500|ft|m}} to cover a distance of {{convert|1000|ft|m}}, indicate that the work was done without a methodical approach (Burns 173). Rather, the workers followed probably an underground watercourse (Apostol, p. 33).</ref>
The tunnel, completed in the late 6th century BC{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}, presumably between 550 and 530 BC,<ref>Harry B. Evans, Review of Hermann Kienast, p.150</ref> was {{cvt|1,036|m|ft|abbr=on}} long{{citation needed|reason=A number this exact surely warrants a citation -- Hodge (1992) gives only an estimate of ca. 1 km.|date=17-12-2024}} and is {{cvt|1.8|x|1.8|m|ft|abbr=on}} square in cross-section{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}. It was the longest one of its time{{citation needed|reason=Was it really? Who says so, and where?|date=17-12-2024}} and it still exists. Water was brought to the city, passing through limestone at the base of a hill. It is regarded as a major feat of ancient engineering{{citation needed|reason=By whom? Do I consider it as a major feat of ancient engineering? Perhaps. Do you?|date=17-12-2024}}. The tunnel was excavated from both ends{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}, and it does not follow a direct line -- for several hundred meters on both ends it does follow a straight line, but in the middle third there are several turns{{r|hodge1992|p=29}}.
Additionally, the tunnel has two parts: The main tunnel and a trench running along the left side of the main tunnel{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}. While the main tunnel is horizontal, the trench gets progressively deeper with an average gradient of 0.4%{{r|hodge1992|p=28}}. On the bottom of the trench ran terracotta pipeline carrying the water{{r|hodge1992|p=27}}.
The tunnel is the second known tunnel in history which was excavated from both ends and the first with a methodical approach in doing so.<ref>The oldest known tunnel which was dug by two teams from opposite ends was [[Siloam tunnel]] in Jerusalem, completed around 700 BC. However, numerous false starts in wrong directions, which took the tunnel {{convert|1500|ft|m}} to cover a distance of {{convert|1000|ft|m}}, indicate that the work was done without a methodical approach (Burns 173). Rather, the workers followed probably an underground watercourse (Apostol, p. 33).</ref>


The Greek historian [[Herodotus]] describes the tunnel briefly in his ''[[Histories (Herodotus)|Histories]]'' (3.60) and calls Eupalinos of Megara its architect:
The Greek historian [[Herodotus]] describes the tunnel briefly in his ''[[Histories (Herodotus)|Histories]]'' (3.60) and calls Eupalinos of Megara its architect:

Revision as of 14:24, 17 December 2024

Tunnel of Eupalinos
Entrance of tunnel

Eupalinos (Ancient Greek: Εὐπαλῖνος) or Eupalinus of Megara was an ancient Greek engineer who built the Tunnel of Eupalinos on Samos Island in the 6th century BC. The construction of the tunnel was an undertaking for the tyrant Polycrates of Samos[1]: 27 .

The tunnel, completed in the late 6th century BC[1]: 27 , presumably between 550 and 530 BC,[2] was 1,036 m (3,399 ft) long[citation needed] and is 1.8 m × 1.8 m (5.9 ft × 5.9 ft) square in cross-section[1]: 27 . It was the longest one of its time[citation needed] and it still exists. Water was brought to the city, passing through limestone at the base of a hill. It is regarded as a major feat of ancient engineering[citation needed]. The tunnel was excavated from both ends[1]: 27 , and it does not follow a direct line -- for several hundred meters on both ends it does follow a straight line, but in the middle third there are several turns[1]: 29 . Additionally, the tunnel has two parts: The main tunnel and a trench running along the left side of the main tunnel[1]: 27 . While the main tunnel is horizontal, the trench gets progressively deeper with an average gradient of 0.4%[1]: 28 . On the bottom of the trench ran terracotta pipeline carrying the water[1]: 27 . The tunnel is the second known tunnel in history which was excavated from both ends and the first with a methodical approach in doing so.[3]

The Greek historian Herodotus describes the tunnel briefly in his Histories (3.60) and calls Eupalinos of Megara its architect:

I have dwelt rather long on the history of the Samians because theirs are the three greatest works (ergasmata) of all the Greeks. One is a tunnel (orygma amphistomon) through the base of a nine hundred foot high mountain. The tunnel's length is seven stades, its height and length (width) both eight feet. Throughout its length another cutting (orygma) has been dug (ororyktai) three feet wide and three feet deep, through which the water flowing in pipes is led into the city from an abundant spring. The builder (architekton) of the tunnel was the Megarian Eupalinus, son of Naustrophus.

Eupalinos is considered the first hydraulic engineer in history whose name has been passed down. Apart from that, though, nothing more is known about him.[4]

Efpalinos Tunnel, a road tunnel built under the Geraneia mountains in Corinthia and completed in 2017, is named after Eupalinos.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Hodge, Trevor A. Roman Aqueducts & Water Supply. 61 Frith Street, London WlD 3JL: Gerald Duckworth & Co. Ltd. ISBN 0-7156-3171-3.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
  2. ^ Harry B. Evans, Review of Hermann Kienast, p.150
  3. ^ The oldest known tunnel which was dug by two teams from opposite ends was Siloam tunnel in Jerusalem, completed around 700 BC. However, numerous false starts in wrong directions, which took the tunnel 1,500 feet (460 m) to cover a distance of 1,000 feet (300 m), indicate that the work was done without a methodical approach (Burns 173). Rather, the workers followed probably an underground watercourse (Apostol, p. 33).
  4. ^ Tom Apostol, p.33

Further reading

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