Possibly it is a conflation between two tales from ancient Greece -- one being the invention of the steam-propelled axis used in (I believe the tale was) some ancient temple to open the massive doors, and the other being the death of Socrates by hemlock for insisting on truth. I don't know any tales of man hung or otherwise punished for making steam per se, but new inventions are often looked on as the Devil's handiwork.


A