Noria

However, the names of traditional water-raising devices used in the Middle East, India, Spain and other areas are often used loosely and overlappingly, or vary depending on region.

[5][6] In Spain, by contrast, the term noria is used for both types of wheels, whether powered by animals or water current.

[7] Traditional norias may have pots, buckets or tubes attached directly to the periphery of the wheel, in effect sakias powered by flowing water rather than by animals or motors.

[citation needed] Paddle-driven water-lifting wheels had appeared in ancient Egypt by the 4th century BC.

[12] Around 300, the Romans replaced the wooden compartments with separate, attached ceramic pots that were tied to the outside of an open-framed wheel, thereby creating the noria.

[15][6] For example, the flywheel mechanism used to smooth out the delivery of power from a driving device to a driven machine, was invented by ibn Bassal (fl.

[16] In 1206, Ismail al-Jazari introduced the use of the carank in the noria and saqiya, and the concept of minimizing intermittency was implied for the purpose of maximising their efficiency.

[14] The norias of Hama, for example, were 20 metres (66 ft) in diameter and are still used in modern times (although currently only serving aesthetic purposes).

[21]: 68 [19] The wheel was made of wood but covered in copper, fitted into a stone structure adjoined to a nearby city gate.