In 1936, a ceramic vase found near Baghdad sparked a debate that has lasted for decades: it could be a ancient battery? Some scientists support this theory, although many consider it controversial.
Known as “Baghdad Battery”, this ceramic dating back to 3rd century BC it was found in 1936 in a village near Ctésiphon, the ancient capital of the Parthian and Persian empires under the Sassanids. The composition of the vase, combined with a copper tube and an iron bar in the center, resembles some kind of electrochemical device. The discovery has led to numerous hypotheses: according to some, it may have been a religious device or even one medical instrument ancient; others, however, believe it could be a real galvani battery.
A fascinating hypothesis: the theory of the galvanic battery
The theory was proposed in 1938 by Wilhelm Königdirector of the National Museum of Iraq, according to which the materials of the battery could have generated a galvanic reaction by adding an acid. This explanation, although interesting, has attracted conflicting opinions. Other scholars have put forward the hypothesis that the battery was used for religious rituals in which an electric effect was sought, perhaps to amaze the faithful during worship.
Numerous experiments have been conducted to test this theory. In the 1970s, Professor Arne Eggebrecht attempted to use a replica of the battery to gilde a small statue, confirming that it was possible to obtain a mild electric current. Although this evidence has offered interesting insights, the scientific community remains skeptical and, to date, there is still no certainty about the function of mysterious pile in Baghdad.
