The ancient Greek and Roman water organ (hydraulis): how did it play?

What is it about?

Modern reconstructions of the ancient water organ have remained unsatisfactory - above all, not nearly powerful enough to accompany gladiator fights in large arenas along trumpets and horns. A close survey of the instrument's geometry, however, suggests that the ancient water organ played at much higher pressures than modern bellow organs. Such pressure levels suggest that it was actually not equipped with flute-like pipes, but with reeds, much like modern bagpipes. Reeds produce a loud sound while consuming comparatively little air, so that many more pipes could play simultaneously, creating an overall volume fitting for amphitheaters.

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