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I was listening to Radio Lab today, and they described this clockwork monk, made for King Philip II, in the 1560s.
From Wikipedia
- Don Carlos, Prince of Asturias, son of King Philip II of Spain, was of a difficult and rebellious character. On the night of April 19, 1562, he was groping around in the dark after a night spent with some ladies when he fell down a flight of stairs and landed on his head. There he was found the next morning, unconscious and partially paralyzed. He later became blind, developed a high fever and his head swelled to an enormous size. In a moment of lucidity, he asked that he wanted to make a personal petition to St. Didacus. The saint's body was brought to his chambers. The prior of the convent placed one of Carlos' hands upon the chest of St. Didacus, whereupon the prince fell into a deep and peaceful sleep. Six hours later, he awoke and related that in a dream, he saw the saint telling him that he would not die. The prince recovered from his brush with death.
Apparently, Phillip II promised to do something for God if he spared his son, and commissioning a clockwork Didacus was what he did.
Once I got home I had to look for the video.
user-inactivated · 1885 days ago · link ·
This comment has been deleted.
speeding_snail · 4557 days ago · link ·
Ah, I remember this episode. Awesome to actually see the monk now. I usually just listen and contemplate, not looking stuff up when I listen to radiolab :P
thenewgreen · 4557 days ago · link ·
The 7 greatest robots of the pre-modern era The "pooping duck" that they mention in the Radio Lab program is listed.
btw, 1560's? It's amazing work and equally amazing is how well preserved it is.