Corpus Hermeticum with Pneumatica and Ocellus Lucanus

...to settle back into place, due to the elasticity eutonia original: "εὐτονίᾳ" (eutonia). In this context, it refers to the inherent resilience or "tension" of a material that allows it to return to its original shape. of these bodies. This is exactly what happens with shavings of horn and with sponges; for when they are compressed and then released, they settle back again into the same position and restore their original volume onkos original: "ὄγκον" (onkos). This refers to the physical bulk or space occupied by the object.. Similarly, if the particles of air are forced apart from one another by some external force and a larger empty space is created, they will run back toward each other again. For motion through a vacuum kenon original: "κενοῦ" (kenou). Heron posits that particles move rapidly through empty spaces because there is no resistance. happens very quickly, as there is nothing to resist or push back against them, until the particles eventually strike one another.

If, therefore, someone takes a very light, narrow-mouthed vessel and applies it to their mouth, sucks out the air and then lets go, the vessel will remain hanging from the lips. This happens because the vacuum draws the flesh into itself so that the space emptied by the suction may be refilled. From this, it becomes clear that a collective vacuum was created within the space of the vessel.

This is also evident from the "medical eggs" original: "ἰατρικὰ ὠὰ" (iatrika oa). These were egg-shaped glass vessels used for cupping in ancient medicine. which people apply to their mouths. When they wish to fill these vessels with liquid, they suck out the air inside them with their mouth, block the opening with a finger, and then turn the vessel upside down into the liquid. And the liquid is then drawn up...