On October the 10th 2024, the Modern Greek Department organised a wonderful field trip to the Kotsanas Museum of Ancient Greek Technology for me and my fellow Year 8 pupils. There, we saw a variety of different and equally interesting musical instruments, ancient technology and games. I would like to talk to you about the one that interested me the most – the first ever vending machine! Given the name “the automatic holy water acceptor”, it was placed outside temples and would allow the faithful to drop a five-drachma coin into a vessel. Clever engineering meant that the coin then fell into the disc of balance, the diversion of which would open up a conical valve allowing some water to flow out. The idea behind this was that the water was a gift from the ancient Greek gods to show their gratitude for the five-drachma coin, thus making it holy water!
Anthony Pangalos
Year 8
