<P> The idea of automata originates in the mythologies of many cultures around the world . Engineers and inventors from ancient civilizations, including Ancient China, Ancient Greece, and Ptolemaic Egypt, attempted to build self - operating machines, some resembling animals and humans . Early descriptions of automata include the artificial doves of Archytas, the artificial birds of Mozi and Lu Ban, a "speaking" automaton by Hero of Alexandria, a washstand automaton by Philo of Byzantium, and a human automaton described in the Lie Zi . </P> <P> Many ancient mythologies, and most modern religions include artificial people, such as the mechanical servants built by the Greek god Hephaestus (Vulcan to the Romans), the clay golems of Jewish legend and clay giants of Norse legend, and Galatea, the mythical statue of Pygmalion that came to life . Since circa 400 BC, myths of Crete include Talos, a man of bronze who guarded the island from pirates . </P> <P> In ancient Greece, the Greek engineer Ctesibius (c. 270 BC) "applied a knowledge of pneumatics and hydraulics to produce the first organ and water clocks with moving figures ." In the 4th century BC, the Greek mathematician Archytas of Tarentum postulated a mechanical steam - operated bird he called "The Pigeon". Hero of Alexandria (10--70 AD), a Greek mathematician and inventor, created numerous user - configurable automated devices, and described machines powered by air pressure, steam and water . </P> <P> The 11th century Lokapannatti tells of how the Buddha's relics were protected by mechanical robots (bhuta vahana yanta), from the kingdom of Roma visaya (Rome); until they were disarmed by King Ashoka . </P>

When was the first robot invented and by whom