Ancient Analog Computer: What is Antikythera?

Antikythera is an ancient Greek mechanism that was discovered in 1901 in the Antikythera wreck, a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. It’s believed to have been made in the 2nd or 1st century BCE and is considered to be the oldest known example of a mechanical analog computer.

The mechanism is a complex system of gear trains and bronze plates with inscriptions and displays that showed astronomical, calendrical, and astrological information. It’s believed to have been used as a sort of astronomical clock or an astrological calculator. The mechanism was so advanced for its time that its true purpose and functions were not fully understood until modern times, when advanced X-ray imaging and computer modeling technologies were used to study the mechanism in detail.

The Antikythera mechanism is considered a major scientific and technological achievement of the ancient world and provides insight into the level of scientific and technological knowledge of the ancient Greeks. Its discovery has also challenged conventional views about the development of technology and science, as it is now widely recognized that the ancient Greeks were capable of creating complex and sophisticated mechanical devices much earlier than previously thought.

How does the Antikythera Mechanism work?

The Antikythera mechanism was a complex system of bronze gears and plates that showed astronomical, calendrical and astrological information. It’s believed to have been used as a kind of astronomical clock or astrological calculator.

The mechanism consisted of a series of interlocking gear trains that were housed within a bronze casing. The gear trains were driven by a hand-crank on the side of the casing, which caused the gears to rotate and produce various displays of astronomical information.

The mechanism was designed to show the motions of the sun, moon, and planets against the background of the fixed stars, as well as to predict eclipses, phases of the moon, and other astronomical events. It had at least 30 bronze gears, some of which were quite small, that were used to calculate and display the relative positions of celestial objects.

The mechanism also had several displays, including a front dial that showed the solar and lunar calendars, as well as a display of the zodiac and the phases of the moon. There was also a rear dial that showed the positions of the sun, moon, and planets, as well as eclipses.

In addition to the gears and displays, the mechanism also included inscriptions and labels that explained the various functions and displays. These inscriptions suggest that the mechanism was intended to be used by people with some level of scientific knowledge, and they provide valuable information about the ancient Greek understanding of astronomy and the cosmos.

Despite its complexity, the Antikythera mechanism was compact and portable, which suggests that it was intended to be used by individuals, rather than being displayed in a temple or other public setting. Its advanced design and construction are considered a testament to the technological and scientific prowess of the ancient Greeks.

Antikythera Mechanism history

The Antikythera mechanism is a complex ancient Greek astronomical instrument that was discovered in 1901 in the Antikythera wreck, a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. The mechanism is believed to have been made in the 2nd or 1st century BCE and is considered to be the oldest known example of a mechanical analog computer.

The Antikythera wreck was discovered by a group of sponge divers who were diving in the Aegean Sea. They recovered a number of ancient artifacts, including the mechanism, which was initially thought to be a simple navigational device.

However, as researchers began to study the mechanism in detail, they realized that it was much more complex and sophisticated than initially thought. In the early 20th century, the mechanism was studied by a number of scholars, including the English astronomer Derek de Solla Price, who conducted a comprehensive study of the mechanism in the 1950s and 1960s.

Price’s work on the mechanism was groundbreaking, as he was able to demonstrate that the mechanism was an astronomical instrument and showed the motions of the sun, moon, and planets against the background of the fixed stars. He also showed that the mechanism was capable of predicting eclipses and other astronomical events.

Since Price’s work, the mechanism has been studied in detail using modern technologies, such as X-ray imaging and computer modeling, which have allowed researchers to gain a much deeper understanding of the mechanism’s design, construction, and functions.

Today, the Antikythera mechanism is considered a major scientific and technological achievement of the ancient world and provides insight into the level of scientific and technological knowledge of the ancient Greeks. Its discovery has also challenged conventional views about the development of technology and science, as it is now widely recognized that the ancient Greeks were capable of creating complex and sophisticated mechanical devices much earlier than previously thought.

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