The screw thread is believed to have been invented around 400 BCE, by Archytas of Tarentum, a Greek philosopher sometimes called “the father of mechanics.” The general principle of the screw was applied early on, in cities like Pompeii, to extract olive oil and grape juice.

Who invented screw thread?

“But many consider that the screw thread was invented around 400 BC by [Greek philosopher] Archytas of Tarentum, who has often been called the founder of mechanics and considered a contemporary of Plato,” Eccles writes on his website.

When did screws get invented?

The screw press, probably invented in Greece in the 1st or 2nd century bc, has been used since the days of the Roman Empire for pressing clothes. In the 1st century ad, wooden screws were used in wine and olive-oil presses, and cutters (taps) for cutting internal threads were in use.