There was a program in History Channel the other day regarding small machines used in Grecian Temples to create awe among public. These were mostly designed by Heron a genius engineer during that period. He uses pretty much the same systems everywhere. namely Elasticity of Air. He made doors open automatically, idols talk, metals birds sing, 20 feet statues whistle, etc. They (the priests) also produced thunder, lighting and other tricks to ensure the pulic stayed away from the newly emerging threat of Christianity!! It was really incredible that such wonderful mechanisms were thought about by man some 2000 years back.
We, in TN, were also similarly accomplished builders during that era. There was a thread in this group about the Temple Cars. Did we ever use such tricks? I think purely from a technological point of view, it would have been fascinating to read about such things.