Water organ

The Hydraulis (also Hydraulos or water organ ) is a well known since ancient musical instrument with a set of pipes, in which a uniform air pressure is maintained by water. Here, a downwardly open container ( Pnigeus ) is immersed in a water vessel. By pumping air is forced into the container, whereby the water is expelled from the container. The water pressure keeps the air pressure in the tank fairly constant, although the pumps do not produce a uniform air flow.

Heron of Alexandria has such a water organ described ( organon hydraulikon Greek " water pipe "), which was constructed by Ktesibios around 250 BC. Their construction is also explained by Vitruvius ( De Architectura 10, 8). In the Roman Empire, the water organ in the circus and the theater was used for rich Romans it was used to house music.

In the Renaissance period water-powered organ machines were built based on the ancient Hydraulis, for example, at the Villa d' Este in Tivoli.

Larger water organs had several rows of pipes that were individually be registered. In addition to flue pipes also Lingualpfeifen might have come with premium or retaliation tongues to use what the term Hydraulos ( Hydor, water; Aulos: antique reed instrument with a single or double reed ) suggesting.

It is believed that organ parts, which were found during excavations in Dion, Avenches and near Budapest, from Hydraulen from the 1st century BC ( Dion ) and the late Classical period date. The latter finding from the Roman town of Aquincum (on the site of today's Budapest) is dated 228 AD to the year. These well- preserved parts of the ancient Hydaulis have led to several reconstructions.

Word origin

The term " hydraulis " (gr. ὕδραυλις, fem ) means "with water ( ὕδωρ ) powered instrument ( αὐλός ) ". In addition, the short form of " hydra " is ( gr ὕδρας, masc ) occupied.