Ismail al-Jazari (1136–1206 CE): The Father of Robotics
In the twelfth century, Ismail al-Jazari turned metal, water, and wood into poetry in motion. His ingenious machines — from the majestic Elephant Clock to lifelike automata and water-raising pumps — fused art and engineering in ways that still astonish. Blending precision with playfulness, he saw invention as a form of philosophy, proof that creativity and curiosity are the twin forces driving both science and the soul.