Baghdad Battery: Drawing from different pictures of the museum artifact
The Baghdad Battery, also known as the Parthian Battery, is a curious artifact that was discovered near Baghdad, Iraq. There is something around a dozen of these artifacts and their purpose is a matter of controversy. However, the most prominent theory regarding their purpose is quite astounding. It is thought by many that the Baghdad Battery is an ancient battery. The amazing thing about this possibility is that if it is in fact, a battery, that would mean that batteries were invented roughly 2,000 years before modern history suggests electricity was discovered by humans.
When it comes to the first discovery of the Baghdad Battery, sources are conflicting. It is said to have been discovered either among other artifacts at the National Museum of Iraq, by archaeologist Wilhelm Konig in 1938 or it was discovered in the Khujut Rabu ruins near Baghdad, in 1936. Wilhelm Konig was the first person to study one of the artifacts, which appeared to be a small, clay, vase-shaped pot with some very intriguing contents
Konig found the vase was made of yellow clay and he estimated it to be roughly 2,000 years old. The pot itself stands about 6 inches high. Inside of the pot was a copper cylinder that was soldered using 60-40 lead-tin alloy. The bottom was capped with copper and sealed with asphalt. An iron rod was placed in the cylinder and held in place with more asphalt. It is often assumed that an acidic agent, such as vinegar or wine was poured into the device because the iron rods show some signs of having been corroded by such a liquid.
When replicas of the Baghdad Battery were made and tested, it was discovered that they are capable of producing between one and two volts of electricity. Wilhelm Konig was the first person to suggest that the Baghdad Battery was capable of this. Many experiments have been done since that time that have produced supporting results. It is certain that the objects are capable of producing electricity, but was this their purpose when they were made?
If they were indeed intended to be used as batteries, it is thought that they were most likely used for electroplating. Of course, the electricity they produce is very little, but it could’ve been used for any number of things. Then again, it may not have been used as a battery at all. Some believe that the Baghdad Battery was, in fact, a means of holding parchment. The parchment would have been wrapped around the rod and placed inside of the cylinder. And then there is the possibility that we really have no idea what the artifact was really used for. We just can’t know for sure until some new evidence is found, if it ever is.
Do you think the Baghdad Battery is an ancient battery? If so, what do you think it was used for? If not, what do you think it is? Is it possible that experiments done on these artifacts produced false results because researchers only did experiments that suited the battery theory? The story of the Baghdad Batteries raises all of these questions and more. Please join us in the Historic Mysteries Forum to discuss these mysterious objects. Click the link below to discuss this article in the forum.
Sources
The Baghdad Battery, retrieved 10/01/09, world-mysteries.com/sar_11.htm
The Baghdad Battery, retrieved 10/01/09, skepticworld.com/ancient-artifacts/baghdad-battery.asp
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