created 2025-03-31, & modified, =this.modified
rel: The Machine As Seen at the End of the Mechanical Age - MoMA Mouth of Truth
A brazen head, brass, or bronze head was a legendary automaton in the Middle Ages to the early modern period whose ownership was ascribed to late medieval scholars, such as Roger Bacon, who had developed a reputation as wizards. Made of brass or bronze, the male head was variously mechanical or magical. Like Odin’s head of Mimir in Norse paganism, it was reputed to be able to correctly answer any question put to it, although it was sometimes restricted to “yes” or “no” answers.
James Baldwin
It was a head of an image of brass—faultlessly made, beautiful in every line, a wonder to look upon. Then began the true work of the magician. The head was fastened upon a pedestal of marble. Clockwork was placed inside of it. Wires were attached to the tongue, the eyeballs, and other parts of the image. These were carried to mysterious jars of chemicals hidden away in a dark closet.
Etymology
Curious about this connection, from brass and Brazen
Old English bræsen “of brass,” from bræs “brass” (see brass (n.)) + -en (2). The figurative sense of “hardened in effrontery” is from 1570s (in brazen-faced), perhaps suggesting a face unable to show shame.
Roger Bacon Legend
Roger Bacon labored for seven years to build his brazen head. He believed that, with the machine’s knowledge, he could ring England in a wall of brass. Bacon framed his head with the help of a cacodemon, then imbued it with magic via necromancy. Then, he waited for it to activate.
For sixty days Bacon watched the head, until finally he collapsed from exhaustion. The brazen head awoke. While Bacon slept, it said “TIME IS. TIME WAS. TIME IS PAST.” Then, it shattered.