Medieval Robots

A waterclock in a miniature from a French Bible moralisée. The central clock-wheel has teeth that interlock with a bell-striking mechanism at the top left of the wheel; another bell-striking mechanism is on the bottom right of the wheel. The water drips into a basin below the wheel. Paris, ca. 1250. Oxford, The Bodleian Libraries, University of Oxford, MS Bodley 270, fol. 183v.

Alexander the Great being embalmed after his death. His body is opened by physicians and surgeons in his bedroom. One holds a jar of balm. The body is then displayed in gold, with his helmet, standard, and tunic hung above, like relics. Historia Alexandri magni, by Quintus Curtius, translated by Vasque de Lucène, France, 15th century. Paris, BnF, MS Fr. 711, fol. 41v.

A mechanical cupbearer. This image is from a copy of the illustration of this object from the 1206 al-Jazari manuscript. Al-Jazari, Book of Ingenious Mechanical Devices, Turkey, 14th century. Cambridge, Massachusetts, Harvard Art Museums/Arthur M. Sackler Museum, bequest of Hervey E. Wetzel, 1919.138. Photo: Imaging Department © President and Fellows of Harvard College.

Copper knights guarding Doloreuse Garde. Note the demonic facial features and the exaggerated physique and genitalia. Histoire du saint graal, France, 15th century. Paris, BnF, MS Fr. 113, fol. 1.

Four automata in the Chambre de Beautés, including two musicians and a figure holding a censer; in the far left, a fourth figure makes hand signals to tell courtiers how to adjust their behavior. Roman de Troie, France, 14th century. Paris, BnF, MS Fr. 60, fol. 141.