516
[Book V.
writers of the last Century attributed them to Ctesibius , (see page 268,)because they were used in some of his water-clocks, and no earlier appli-cation of them was then known. For the same reason the Invention oftoothed wheels has been erroneously ascribed to him. All the Informa-tion extant respecting the ancient nations of the East is exceedinglylimited, while of their arts and details of their mechanism we know nextto nothing. The greater part of our ordinary machines cannot be tracedto a higher source than Grreece, but Greece itself was colonized by Egyp-tians; and however much the children of Cadmus may have refined onsome departments of the useful arts, the general mechanism of theirancestors is believed to have passed through their hands to those of theRomans, and from the latter to us with little alteration. This was cer-tainly the case with their hydraulic and hydro-pneumatic devices. Thesiphon is an example. The name of this instrument is taken from a Greekword, which signifies simply a tube ; but it has been ascertained that theword is of a remoter—of an oriental origin, being derived from siph orsif, to imbibe or draw up with the breath, and whence comea our expres-sion to sip. Now if it can be proved that the siphon was in use, and wascharged by sucking before the times of Grecian history, we may safelyconclude that a more ancient people furnished the Greeks with both theinstrument and its name.
The researches of Rosellini and Wilkinson have settled this point.These gentlemen have brought to light irresistible evidence that siphonswere used in Egypt at least as early as 1450 years before Christ. In atomb at Thebes , which bears the name of Amunoph II, who reigned atthe period just named, they are delineated, and in a manner too distinctto admit of any doubts. See No. 235. Several jars are representedupon a frame or stand. Into three of them siphons are inserted ; twoapparently in Operation, and a man is in the act of charging the other bysucking : the contents of the jars being transferred into a large vase sup-ported upon an ornamental stand.
Na. 236.
Mr. Wilkinson supposes that siphons were invented in Egypt , and wereused to decant the Nile water from one vessel to another. He says it isnecessary to let this water stand for some time before being used, that themud suspended in it may settle to the bottom. On this account vasescontaining it cannot be moved without rendering it again turbid, and thesame effect is produced by dipping ; hence the use of siphons, The eon-