Metagene (525 BC - 475 BC)

Temples builder and machine for construction designer. He is remembered as the architect of Knossos.

As for his father Chersiphron, we have very few news about the life of Metagenes of Crete. All these few news are from the commentary he wrote but it did not came to present days. Vitruvius (De architectura X, 2) and Pliny (Naturalis Historia, VII, 23) took some informations from this commentary about the way he invented to transport the architraves: by means of wooden wedges and iron rims, he transformed each architrave in a sort of two wheeled axle by which it was possible to cover the distance of 8 km between the quarry and the temple. This invention was also suitable to transport tapered columns that had not be transported by using the invention made from his father Chersiphron.

variant spelling:
Metagene

Curriculum vitae

* 570 BC - 480 BC		born
† 520 BC - 430 BC		died
?		He was son of Chersiphron
?		His invention was also suitable to transport tapered columns
?		Vitruvius (De architectura X, 2) and Pliny (Naturalis Historia, VII, 23) took some informations from this commentary about the way he invented to transport the architraves

Permanent links

DMG-Lib		https://www.dmg-lib.org/dmglib/handler?biogr=8229004
Europeana		http://www.europeana.eu/portal/record/2020801/dmglib_handler_biogr_8229004.html

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Metagene (525 BC - 475 BC)