Glossary/Automaton
Automaton
An automaton is an animated mechanical figure or scene. The earliest automatons were Egyptian, followed by Greek and Roman gods which pointed to 'chosen' kings or leaders. Early automata, worked by mechanical clocks, were called Jacks. Later, jousting knights, waterfalls, windmills, ships at sea, animals playing musical instruments, acrobats, etc., were worked by the clockwork and often associated with musical clocks. A famous one was Bridge's Microcosm (now in the British Museum). James Cox was a renowned maker in the eighteenth century. Watches were also made with automata (occasionally of erotic scenes which were concealed until operated by a secret push piece). One of the most recent large clocks with automaton is the Guinness Clock.
The word 'automation' is derived from automaton.