What device did Leonardo da Vinci design to lift water by turning a helical screw?

Leonardo da Vinci designed and studied an Archimedes’ screw to lift water by turning a helical surface.

An Archimedes’ screw consists of a spiral blade inside a cylinder or trough. When the screw rotates, pockets of water are carried upward along the spiral. Leonardo investigated versions of this ancient lifting machine in his studies of hydraulics and mechanical power.

The device was not Leonardo’s original invention. It is traditionally associated with Archimedes, although the exact ancient history is debated. Leonardo’s contribution was to examine, draw, and adapt mechanisms within his own engineering work rather than to originate the principle.

This distinction matters because many devices described as Leonardo’s inventions were actually improvements or new applications of older ideas. His notebooks combine ancient machines, contemporary engineering, and original proposals. The water screw also relates to his broader interest in canals, irrigation, pumps, and the controlled movement of water.