What water-lifting machine did Leonardo da Vinci study for moving water uphill?

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

An Archimedes’ screw consists of a helical blade inside a cylinder or trough. When the screw rotates, water is carried upward along the spiral. Leonardo drew and analyzed screw-based water-lifting devices, adapting the ancient principle for engineering problems involving canals, drainage, irrigation, and construction.

The machine was not Leonardo’s invention: its name refers to the ancient Greek mathematician Archimedes, traditionally credited with developing or popularizing it in the third century BCE. Leonardo’s contribution was his detailed mechanical study and his exploration of possible improvements in structure, power transmission, and use.

The Archimedes’ screw is distinct from Leonardo’s aerial screw. Both use a spiral form, but the water-lifting screw moves liquid through a trough or cylinder, while the aerial screw was intended to generate lift in air. Modern versions still pump water, move grain, and transport other bulk materials.