Ctesibius of Alexandria

Ctesibius of Alexandria, was a Greek inventor and mathematician from the 3rd century BCE. He is often hailed as the father of pneumatics and a pioneer in hydraulics. Born in Alexandria, Egypt, he flourished around 285–222 BCE. His most notable contributions include advancements in hydraulic engineering and pneumatics. Ctesibius is credited with inventing the hydraulis, the earliest form of the pipe organ. He made improvements to the water clock, which for more than 1, 800 years remained as the most accurate clock yet. He is also considered the discoverer of the siphon principle.

Guy 1: Hey, that's a cool piano you have.
Guy 2: Actually this is a "hydraulis"!
Guy 1: What.
Guy 2: It was invented by Ctesibius of Alexandria back in ancient Greece!
Guy 1: What.
Guy 2: The piano only got invented in 1698 by Bartolomeo Cristofori!
Guy 1: I don't wanna be friends anymore.

Bartolomeo Cristofori

Bartolomeo Cristofori, also known as Bartolommeo di Francesco Cristofori, was an Italian instrument maker known for inventing the piano. Born in Padua, he initially worked for Prince Ferdinando de' Medici in Florence, where he was responsible for maintaining and creating musical instruments. Cristofori's most significant innovation was the development of the pianoforte—the predecessor of the modern day piano—, an instrument capable of both soft and loud dynamics, unlike the harpsichord, which had limited dynamic range. His earliest known pianos date back to the early 1700s, featuring mechanisms such as the hammer action, which allowed for more expressive playing.

Guy 1: Hey, out of curiosity, who was the inventor of the piano?
Guy 2: Hey Siri.
Siri: * Du dun*
Guy 2: Who invented the piano?
Siri: Bartolomeo Cristofori
Guy 1: Who?