There was an architect, who managed, in the 6th century BC, to construct a tunnel some 1.036 meters long, beginning from two opposite sides, which met with no deviation at all! It is the Tunnel of Efpalinos.

In the 6th century BC the architect Efpalinos from Megara (Attica) constructed a technical wonder, considering that similar projects present with technical difficulties even today, with means such as GPS, which make engineering studies a daily routine.

Polycrates, the Tyrant of Samos, invited Eupalinos and tasked him to ensure the water supply of the island with the construction of an underground aqueduct. Polycrates wanted the aqueduct to be underground, thus not visible from any intruder or invader, in order to guarantee the uninterrupted water supply of the city in case of an emergency, such as a siege.

Efpalinos Aqueduct was used for some 1.100 years, up until the 7th century AD, when the Samians use to found shelter there, during the early Byzantine period. The principle of observance of the proportions, that Eupalinos introduced was followed during Renaissance and is still used today in the construction of tunnels. Inside the tunnel Eupalinos wrote the word “model”. The architect proved entirely accurate in his calculations. Watch the video which describes the construction of Eupalinos Tunnel. The video is edited by Professor Emeritus of the NTUA (National Technological University of Athens), Theodosis Tassios.

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