Sunset in Babylon By Raphael Lacoste / Photo from Raphael Lacoste
If you thought electric bulbs and
batteries were modern European inventions, here is something to put
that fact to question! A 1936 excavation of some 2000-years-old ruins in
an ancient Baghdad village unearthed a small yellow clay vase about 6
inches in height. It had a copper-sheet cylinder lining within it that
measured 5 x 1.5 inches.
A
soldering material (most probably lead and tin) was used at the top edge
of this mysterious cylinder, bearing remarkable affinity to modern
solder alloy. A punched-in copper disk at the base of this cylinder was
sealed with asphalt or bitumen. A similar asphalt layer also found at
the top end held together an iron rod, bearing acidic corrosion marks
inserted within the cylinder.
More after the break...
Ever
since its recovery, several possibilities have been suggested by
experts. Wilhelm König, the German archaeologist brought forth a
startling idea that the clay pot could well be a form of electric
battery. Following his theory, a Massachusetts based engineer Willard
F.M. Gray created a model of this battery in 1940, filled it with copper
sulfate solution and proved that it could produce electricity.
In
1970, the German Egyptologist Arne Eggebrecht followed in the footsteps
of Gray. He supplanted the copper sulfate solution with fresh grape
juice to generate about 0.87V of electricity for gold plating a silver
statue. These experiments proved beyond doubt that 1,800 years old
civilizations knew how to produce and utilize electricity by means of an
acidic agent.
The
path breaking conclusions of Konig lost its significance in the turmoil
of the World War II. His European co-excavators had raised objection to
his theories since the presence of batteries at a predominantly
religious age seemed an unlikely possibility. However, soon a set of
‘ancient batteries’ were unearthed from the same sites in Iraq,
inspiring a score of baffled propositions.
While
some speculated that the electrochemical set up of the ‘batteries’ was
meant to produce electricity, others refuted this claim. A series of
thinly electroplated objects were found by König in Baghdad that
probably used these cells though others opined that these were mainly
fire-gilded. Demonstrative experiments have proved that though this
battery uses a very primitive mechanism, it could plate a small object
with a micrometer thick gold coat over two hours.
However,
the electroplating theory was never unanimously accepted and other
possible usages were suggested for these batteries. Paul Keyser hinted
that the mild electric shock produced by using an iron bar in vinegar
was used by healers or priests for electro-acupuncture. It could also
have been a trick to create a sense of awe among devotees by
electrifying the metal statue of a God.
Although
these possible secular and religious applications for the ancient
Baghdad batteries were credible, some archaeologists expressed their
skepticism for the electrical theory. They raised questions on the
absence of wires and the presence of bitumen insulators for the copper
cylinder as the problem points of these so-called galvanic cells.
They
pointed at the bitumen seal as an evidence for the clay pots being used
for non-electronic, storage purpose. Accordingly, they said these were
secure storage vessels for preserving sacred scrolls, parchments or
papyrus documents within the airtight chamber of the cylinder.
Dendera – Egypt / Photo from Nikki&Michi
However,
in the Temple of Dendra in Egypt a stone relief seems to feature an
electric lamp throwing light. The believers also pointed out that there
was no soot in any of the pyramid shafts or underground tombs of Egypt,
which must have stayed if the workers used fire as a source to make the
elaborate carvings and decorations within the chambers. Many think,
there must have been an alternate source of light other than fire and
this speaks volumes in support of the battery theory. The concept of
using polished copper plates for mirrors does not hold much ground as a
promising source of light.
Carved walls in the temple’s crypt / Photo from Lenka P
The Dendera Light Bulbs / Photo from Hazelra
The Dendera Light Bulbs / Photo from Hazelra
Currently
the Baghdad batteries are preserved as valuable pieces of curios in the
Baghdad Museum. The dating of these unique clay vases revealed them to
be belonging to the Parthian occupation era, somewhere between 248 BCE
and 226 CE, although disputed. The Parthian were predominantly a warrior
clan and not given to scientific sophistications. Dr St John Simpson of
the British Museum attributes the Baghdad batteries to Sassania.
