Ancient Greece: Electricity , Magnetism and Pyroelectricity

Michael Lahanas

Antikes Griechenland: Ideen über Elektrizität und Magnetismus


Thales in a stamp together with the amber or ilektron that is able to attract other objects if charged

The words electricity and magnetism are Greek words since the Greeks were among the first who observed electromagnetic effects. in 314 BC, who noted that tourmaline becomes charged when heated. He wrote that lyngourion (most likely the mineral tourmaline) had the property of attracting straws and bits of wood.


Another story is that of . For objects like a heavy statue even today this would be difficult I assume.

From

Pyroelectricity:

British Ceramic Transactions 1 April 2004, vol. 103, no. 2, pp. 65-70(6)

Lang S.B., A 2400 year history of pyroelectricity: from Ancient Greece to exploration of the solar system

Abstract:

Pyroelectricity was probably first observed by the Greeks more than 24 centuries ago. The philosopher