Roman odometer. Artwork of a type of odometer (for measuring distances travelled) described by 1st-century BC Roman engineer Vitruvius. It may have be

---

Roman odometer. Artwork of a type of odometer (for measuring distances travelled) described by 1st-century BC Roman engineer Vitruvius. It may have been originally been invented by Archimedes of Syracuse, with a similar device described by Hero of Alexandria. As the device moved forward on its wheels, a drive belt and system of cogs turn a central cogwheel. This would turn once per Roman mile (about 1400 metres) and drop a pebble (top) into a box (lower left). The pebbles were counted to determine the distance travelled.

---

Size: 4460px × 3974px
Photo credit: © JOSE ANTONIO PENAS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: 1, alexandria, ancient, antiquity, archimedes, artwork, background, classical, cut, cut-, cut-outs, cutout, cutouts, device, engineering, equipment, hero, historical, history, illustration, instrument, machine, measuring, odometer, outs, roman, rome, shadow, single, syracuse, technological, technology, vitruvius, white