What ancient water-lifting machine did Leonardo da Vinci redesign for moving water?

Leonardo da Vinci redesigned the Archimedes’ screw as a machine for moving water.

An Archimedes’ screw uses a helical surface inside a tube or around a central shaft. When the screw rotates, water is carried upward along the spiral. Leonardo studied and drew versions of this ancient principle as part of his investigations into pumps, canals, irrigation, and hydraulic engineering.

The invention was not originally Leonardo’s: the device is traditionally associated with Archimedes of Syracuse, who lived in the third century BCE. Leonardo’s contribution was examining, adapting, and illustrating mechanical forms that could serve Renaissance engineering projects.

The screw is different from a water wheel. A water wheel extracts energy from flowing water, while an Archimedes’ screw generally uses rotation to lift water. Modern versions remain useful for drainage and wastewater handling.