The Baghdad Battery - An Unsolved Puzzle

Over the past decades, archaeologists have discovered many items that baffle them. The Roman dodecahedron is an item that we posted an article about several months ago. Another interesting artifact that still stumps specialists is the “Baghdad Battery”. 

The Baghdad Battery was discovered in 1936 in Khuju Rabu, Iraq, which is southeast of Baghdad along the Tigris River. The object is a ceramic pot that was formed to hold or house two other pieces inside of it. A hollow copper tube fit tightly down through the mouth of the pot, and a thin iron rod would be stuck through a plug at the top and down inside the copper sleeve; however, it was designed in such a way that the two items would not touch. The object is believed to have been constructed during the Parthian Empire, which was from 247 BC to 224 AD. 

The artifact, which is now held in the Iraq Museum in Baghdad, has been shrouded in mystery since its discovery, but there are several theories of its purpose. An initial theory stated that when immersed in an acidic liquid, a resulting electric current would be produced. Later experiments replicating the primitive technology resulted in the generation of from 1.5 to 2 volts of electricity. Though this might not be a lot of power, the greater question is, What would this have been used for 2,000 years ago? 

Was the battery used as a treatment for ailments? Perhaps it was used to intentionally inflict pain. Or perhaps the truth has yet to be theorized. Regardless, the Baghdad Battery is a marvel that will likely puzzle scientists for years to come.