Gods and Robots. Myths, Machines, and Ancient Dreams of Technology

(Tina Meador) #1

daedalus and the living statues 87


Fig. 5.1 (plate 6). Realistic bronze ram. Was the sculptor of this life- size ram inspired by the
story of Daedalus’s true- to- life ram dedicated to Aphrodite in the time of King Cocalus? Bronze
Ram of Syracuse, Sicily, third century BC, Museo Archeologico, Palermo, Scala / Art Resource, NY.


the complex lost- wax process. First he found a real piece of undamaged
honeycomb and carefully uncapped each hexagonal cell and drained the
honey. Next the honeycomb was meticulously coated with a fine clay
slip. To the side of the clay- covered comb, he attached “a tiny pouring
cup and thin ‘runners’ of wax’ as vents.” Then the object was placed
in a kiln until the waxen honeycomb burned away, leaving its exact

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