Location: Greece Length: 9.5 min
In 1992 Greek archaeologists recovered a fragmentary hydraulis from the 1st Century B.C. at the Greek city of Dion. Based on this example and documentary evidence, the European Cultural Centre of Delphi finished reconstructing the instrument in 1999. The first keyboard musical instrument and the ancestor of the modern church organ, the hydraulis was invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria in the 3rd Century B.C. This video tells the story of the ancient hydraulis and its modern reconstruction and includes a performance of this remarkable instrument.
Produced by the European Cultural Centre of Delphi
Web links:
European Cultural Centre of Delphi
The Ancient Hydraulis (New York String Service)
Ancient Hydraulis (Archaeology & Arts)
THE HYDRAULIC ORGAN (Archeologisch Museum te Napels)