Hero of Alexandria, also known as Heron of Alexandria, was a celebrated mathematician, engineer, and inventor who lived in the 1st century AD, during the Roman Empire. His exact birth and death dates are unknown, but his works suggest he was active in Alexandria, Egypt, a major center of learning at the time.
Very little is known about Hero's personal life. Most of what we know about him comes from his writings. He was likely a teacher or lecturer at the Library of Alexandria, where he would have had access to the extensive collections of books and manuscripts that fueled the intellectual activities of the era.
Hero made significant contributions to several fields:
Hero's works were influential in the development of science and technology, particularly in the fields of mechanics and engineering. Although many of his inventions were not practical for everyday use during his time, they demonstrated principles that would later be developed into practical technologies. His work influenced later scientists and engineers, including those during the Islamic Golden Age and the European Renaissance.