About Ctesibius
Lived 284 BC – 221 BC (aged 62–63). Ctesibius was a fountain engineer, mechanic and engineer.
Ctesibius or Ktesibios or Tesibius (; BCE) was a Greek inventor and mathematician in Alexandria, Ptolemaic Egypt. Very little is known of Ctesibius' life, but his inventions were well known in his lifetime. in early mentions and reference to his work, including by Vitruvius in . He began his career as a barber, following his father.
Commemoration In 1976, the crater on the far side of the Moon was named Ctesibius by the International Astronomical Union. In 1897, the genus of a soft-bodied plant beetle, was named Ctesibius by Champion, and has one described species called the Ctesibius, C. eumolpoides.
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Important facts
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Ctesibius's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ctesibius?
Greek inventor and mathematician
When was Ctesibius born?
Ctesibius was born in 284 BC in Alexandria.
When did Ctesibius die?
Ctesibius died in 221 BC in Alexandria.
What was Ctesibius's occupation?
Ctesibius was a fountain engineer, mechanic and engineer.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Ctesibius. https://biography.guide/ctesibius/
MLA: "Ctesibius." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/ctesibius/.
Chicago: "Ctesibius." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/ctesibius/.
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