L’artialisation des sons de la nature dans les sanctuaires à automates d’Alexandrie, du iiie s. av. J.-C. au ier s. apr. J.-C.

Abstract

In Alexandria, since the third century BC, sophisticated machines, automatons, have been designed and perfected by three engineers combining in innovative ways, artistry and technical performance. Ctesibius, Philo of Byzantium and Heron of Alexandria in the first century AD were applied to represent nature, to imitate the living, through sensory illusions to meet the ideological discourse of the Lagid kings, who present themselves as protectors and providers of wealth for the people. We show that the automatons present in the sanctuaries of the Hellenistic capital were the result of new artistic trends and especially religious worship Ptolemaic kings. Henceforth, the nature so “art-performed” gives itself up see and hear. This article analyzes some of these ingenious machinery requesting the hearing, in connection with the representation elements attached thereto.

Keywords

• automatons
• nature
• sounds
• sensory
• sanctuaries
• Lagids