between myth and history 197
out of sight. Similar deus ex machina technology was used on the stage
in classical Greek theatrical performances, but this scheme was off the
scale. At the climax of the festivities, the massive Winged Nike would
dramatically descend, by a series of pulleys and levers, stretch out her
hands and place a victor’s crown on Mithradates’s head, and then majes-
tically ascend to the heavens. That was the plan. But the cables failed and
Winged Victory smashed to the ground. The miracle was that no one was
harmed, but the terrible omen was inescapable. 33
A memorable, and in this case wildly successful, display of an autocrat’s
power took place in third- century BC Egypt, orchestrated by Ptolemy II
Philadelphus (283– 246 BC), of the powerful Hellenistic Macedonian
Greek dynasty that ended with the famous queen Cleopatra in 30 BC.
The Ptolemies were avid supporters of the arts and sciences at the new
international research center in Alexandria, the library and museum com-
plex founded in about 280 BC (it was mostly destroyed by fire in about
48 BC). Under the Ptolemies, Alexandria became the hub of scientific
investigation, and the birthplace of machines, with mechanized public
showpieces for theaters, processions, and temples, especially animated
statues and automated devices. 34
Ptolemy II Philadelphus married his sister, Arsinoe II, in 278 BC. As
we saw, after her death he declared her a goddess and commissioned a
miraculous floating statue of her (allegedly using magnets, chapter 5).
But Ptolemy II’s reign from 283 to 246 BC is most remembered for the
outrageous splendor of his Grand Procession of 279/78 BC, a seem-
ingly endless parade of exotic creatures, living tableaux, costumed
dancers, and stunning automated displays that took place over several
days. According to descriptions in a history of Alexandria by Callixenus
of Rhodes (a contemporary of Ptolemy II who may have attended the
event), the magnificent panorama included two dozen golden chariots
drawn by elephants, followed by ostriches, panthers, lions, giraffes, and
other animals, and a multitude of massive carts or floats, hundreds of
performers dressed as satyrs and maenads and other mythic figures,
larger- than- life realistic statues of divinities (including Alexander the
Great), and engineering marvels. Sadly, like so many ancient texts