Hero of Alexandria - Bibliography

Bibliography

The most comprehensive edition of Hero's works was published in 5 volumes in Leipzig by the publishing house Teubner in 1903.

Works known to be written by Hero:

Pneumatica, a description of machines working on air, steam or water pressure, including the hydraulis or water organ.
Automata, a description of machines which enable wonders in temples by mechanical or pneumatical means (e.g. automatic opening or closing of temple doors, statues that pour wine, etc.). See Automaton.
Mechanica, preserved only in Arabic, written for architects, containing means to lift heavy objects.
Metrica, a description of how to calculate surfaces and volumes of diverse objects.
On the Dioptra, a collection of methods to measure lengths. In this work the odometer and the dioptra, an apparatus which resembles the theodolite, are described.
Belopoeica, a description of war machines.
Catoptrica, about the progression of light, reflection and the use of mirrors.

Works which have sometimes been attributed to Hero, but are now thought to have most likely been written by someone else:

Geometria, a collection of equations based on the first chapter of Metrica.
Stereometrica, examples of three dimensional calculations based on the second chapter of Metrica.
Mensurae, tools which can be used to conduct measurements based on Stereometrica and Metrica.
Cheiroballistra, about catapults.
Definitiones, containing definitions of terms for geometry.

Works which are preserved only in fragments: