Plausibility check/WI: Aeolipile used as an engine?

Was Hero's steam machine capable of doing actual work, and be a practical steam engine?
If so, what would have been the ramifications of this?
 
The short answer is no it is to steam what the Van De Graaff generator is to electricity. Entertaining, gets you interest in science but of no practical use.
 
The long answer: Search for "Don Lardo" and "Aeolipile".

Learn more than you ever wanted to know on how useless it was.
 
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