Although the exact history of the Antikythera Mechanism is … It is important to understand that this theory is sole speculative because no one knows what else is out there waiting to be discovered. Who would need such a device? Image: Antikythera Mechanism Image Source: Antikythera Mechanism Research Project Several months ago, I published an article on the Antikythera Mechanism.The Antikythera Mechanism has been called “the world first computer.” The mechanism was developed by the Greeks around 100 B.C. Scientists all agree that the ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM is real and that it dates the the 2nd century BC making it well over 2,000 years old. 4.8 (112) A mechanical calculator that accurately plots the movement of heavenly bodies and predicts the dates of eclipses is discovered in an ancient shipwreck off the coast of Greece. The Antikythera Mechanism – A 2000-Year-Old Impossibility. 8. Much of the technology was obscured by corrosion and there was more excitement surrounding the marble, coins, and pottery from the wreck. All of this on a device that was about the size of a mantel clock. Many of the pieces have been named and functions have been attributed them.The calendar scale represents a 360-day year and is divided into 12 months of 30 days each plus a five-day extra period, which corresponds to the Greek-Egyptian calendar. The incredible discovery was revealed by YouTube channel ‘Antikythera’ during their ‘The Antikythera Mechanism’ documentary. As we have discussed before, there are some ancient inventions out there that have left the modern world dumbfounded. “Scrupulously preserved at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens with the other objects from the wreck, the mechanism aroused the curiosity of many researchers. It was a computer in the sense that the user could input a few simple variables and it would yield a flurry of complicated mathematical calculations. Since long before the invention of the … "This device is extraordinary, the only thing of its kind," said Professor Edmunds. But inscriptions on the device may hint at where it was made. The Antikythera mechanism was discovered in 1900 during the recovery of a shipwreck off of the Greek island, Antikythera, in waters 60 meters deep. The instrument is believed to have been designed and constructed by Greek scientists and is dated between 60BC and 205BC. The Antikythera Mechanism was a marvelous ancient mechanism with more than 37 gears, 17 axis, and 8 pointers. The Inventor of trigonometry may have also had a hand in creating the device. The ancient shipwreck provided researchers with the "computer", along with a treasure trove of well preserved ancient artifacts. Researchers have taken the time to imagine what the device may have looked like and have speculated on what the ancient computer might have been used for. The device, housed in the remains of a wooden box, was found as one lump and later separated into three main fragments which are now divided into 82 separate pieces after conservation efforts. The text — written in tiny typeface but legible ancient Greek — helped them complete the puzzle of what the machine did and how it was operated. See today's front and back pages, download the newspaper, They could not be programmed and had no screens or components that we might think of as being part of a computer. order back issues and use the historic Daily Express (Lead holder / Public Domain ) 5. “Inside, a second circle shows the 12 signs of the zodiac. The ANTIKYTHERA MECHANISM This curious mechanical device is often described as the World’s first analogue computer was retrieved by sponge divers off the coast of Antikythera in or around 1900AD. The Antikythera Mechanism would not be appreciated for what it was until the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, scientists believe they have cracked the centuries-old mystery of … The Antikythera Mechanism, he argued, was one of their gifts [source: Seabrook]. It changed our understanding of human history. They could not be programmed and had no screens or components that we might think of as being part of a computer. The Antikythera mechanism and the astrolabes are considered to be the first analogue calculators (courtesy of National Archaeological Museum, Athens/Costas Xenikakis). It was discovered on a sunken, The Roman-Era wreckage was submerged about, 4. A 2,000 year old Greek shipwreck contained the Antikythera Mechanism, a mechanical computer that was 1,000 years ahead of its time. The earliest analog "computers" were mechanical devices built for a particular task. The wreck itself was found by sponge divers in April 1900 while looking for clams for a meal. The Antikythera mechanism. A rotating ball showed the phase of the Moon and dials on the back acted as a calendar and showed the timing of, 2. The narrator explained: "Amongst the sublime objects, divers found an intriguing bronze item about 20cm high, which began to disintegrate as soon as it was removed from the water. Discovering the Antikythera Mechanism . The documentary added: “It showed a set of interlocking gears of astounding ingenuity. Although the exact history of the Antikythera Mechanism is speculative, the possibilities are exciting. It was built more than 2,000 years ago and used by the ancient Greeks to map the movement of the Sun, Moon, and planets, to predict lunar and solar eclipses, and even when the next Olympic Games would be. It is believed that the device was created in some type of family workshop. The Antikythera Mechanism is in a fragmentary state- approximately 82 fragments in all, though some may or may not be part of the Mechanism. Little did they know it would be one of the most important scientific measuring devices ever discovered. The Antikythera mechanism was similar in size to a mantel clock, and bits of wood found on the fragments suggest it was housed in a wooden case. The wreck itself was found by sponge divers in April 1900 while looking for clams for a meal. Do you think there is more to this story? The Antikythera Mechanism was found by divers in 1901, and many died while performing the search. Hipparchus is considered as the founder of trigonometry. It is believed that the device consisted of around 30 bronze gears organized inside a wooden container a little larger than a shoebox. The Antikythera mechanism was used for more than just navigation. The series went on to explain how the secrets of the object were unearthed. How accurate? A 2,000 year old Greek shipwreck contained the Antikythera Mechanism, a mechanical computer that was 1,000 years ahead of its time. Maybe it was Hipparchus, or someone associated with his school, who worked out the math behind the device. It is important to understand that this theory is sole speculative because no one knows what else is out there waiting to be discovered. All fragments of the Antikythera mechanism are kept at the National Archaeological Museum, in Athens Greece. The Antikythera Mechanism was a marvelous ancient mechanism with more than 37 gears, 17 axis, and 8 pointers. And, shouldn't there be more of them floating around or at least well documented? He created the, The eclipse cycle represented on the device is. The Antikythera Mechanism was found in a Roman-era shipwreck, How was the Antikythera Mechanism found? According to researchers, the 2,100-year-old device was the world’s oldest computer and now there may be a completely unknown HIDDEN purpose inside the mechanism itself. At over 2000 years old, the very existence of the Antikythera Mechanism was a surprise. There was a knob or handle on the side, for winding the mechanism. The Antikythera Mechanism can be thought of as an analog computer. Its technological sophistication seems out of place from a time when there was a lull of astronomical discoveries.. “High-resolution photographs brought to life inscriptions on the side of the machine that appeared to be part of an instruction manual. Just enter your email and we’ll take care of the rest: © Copyright 2020 | Interesting Engineering, Inc. | All Rights Reserved, We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Today, we will take a look at some of the most important facts surrounding the Antikythera Mechanism. Inscriptions explained which stars rose and set on any particular date. Its technological sophistication seems out of place from a time when there was a lull of astronomical discoveries.. Yes, that's right, … The Antikythera Mechanism is not all in one piece. The mechanism is only partially preserved and consists of 82 damaged fragments. According to researchers, the 2,100-year-old device was the world’s oldest computer and now there may be a completely unknown HIDDEN purpose inside the mechanism itself. Since Price’s assessment, modern X-ray and 3D mapping technology have allowed scientists to peer deeper into the remains of the mechanism and learn even more of its secrets. “In order to guarantee its exactitude, whatever the day or year chosen, a dial on the back shows the Metonic cycle – which reflects lunar and solar cycles over 19 years.". In 1959, science historian Derek J. de Solla Price provided the most thorough scientific analysis of the contraption to date. , there are some ancient inventions out there that have left the modern world dumbfounded. For more impressive engineering feats, be sure to stop by here. Maybe it was Hipparchus, or someone associated with his school, who worked out the math behind the device. It was also used to track important local events and festivals like the Olympics. Scholars speculate that the mechanism may have been on its way north from Rhodes when it was lost at sea. The Antikythera mechanism was found at the site of a shipwreck off the coast of a Greek island Antikythera. The Mechanism Structure and Features Since its salvage in 1900–1, the more than 2000-year-old Antikythera Mechanism has proven to be an extraordinary addition to the archaeological record, requiring radical revision of the history of technology.2 The extant artefact They had pointers and scales, combined with a complex arrangement of bronze gears to predict the motion of the sun, planets, and stars. The 2,100-year-old machine salvaged from a shipwreck more than a century ago has been confirmed as an astronomical supercomputer of the ancient world, demonstrating the advanced level of ancient science and technology of ancient Greeks. Hipparchus is considered as the founder of trigonometry. The eclipse cycle represented on the device is Babylonian in origin and Hipparchus is known for having blended Babylonian predictions with Greek. There are no records of the device. But he is most famous for his discovery of the precession of the equinoxes. Antikythera Mechanism is considered the oldest computer in the world and appeared before Bill Gates products for about 2000 years. Please see our Privacy Notice for details of your data protection rights. Its exact purpose was unknown, although a previous … X-ray images taken up to that point were difficult to interpret, and most mainstream historians ignored the artifact. Antikythera Mechanism discovered in shipwreck 115 years ago The find was retrieved from a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Antikythera more than a century ago. But the diving expedition turned out to be dangerous, one diver who explored the site would get paralyzed, and another would die. The device is over 2,000 years old. IT'S BEEN CALLED THE WORLD'S FIRST COMPUTER. It is believed that the planetary motion in the mechanism was accurate to one degree in 500 years. “The form of the letters is typical of the period and the vocabulary used is found on all of the other texts of the same period. He wrote: “The mechanism is like a great astronomical clock, or like a modern analogue computer which uses mechanical parts to save tedious calculation.”. 12 x 7.5 x 4 inches). Fundamental … The pointers on the front face don’t survive, but an inscription suggests they carried colored balls representing Mars and the Sun. Today, we will take a look at some of the most important facts surrounding the Antikythera Mechanism. However, we are getting ahead of ourselves. This ancient invention was way ahead of its time. Yet, we are not sure who would use the mechanism, 11. After numerous studies, it was estimated to have been constructed between 150 BC and 100 BC. X-ray images taken up to that point were difficult to interpret, and most mainstream historians ignored the artifact. Antikythera Mechanism, proposing instead that it is a 354-day lunar calendar. According to experts, there may be an unknown purpose inside the famous Antikythera mechanism. A 2,000-year-old computer? A 2,000-year-old computer called the Antikythera Mechanism helped the ancient Greeks understand their universe. “Given the extensive information we have, a reliable reconstitution can be made.”, DONT MISSEnd of the world: How archaeologist discovered 'real Maayan doomsday' [VIDEO]Mayan DISCOVERY: How find in ancient city ‘reveals creation story' [CLAIM]Egypt: How ‘greatest archaeological find of all time' stunned expert [REVEALED]. It was discovered in the Antikythera … Many have since dubbed it "the world's first" computer. Much later, the Antikythera Mechanism, to the amazement of scientists, would be revealed as, "The World's First Computer," built 2,000 years ago by a Greek genius. It is a metallic device which consists of a complex combination of gears, and dates back to the 2 nd century BCE. The parts of the mechanism that have survived are seven large fragments and 75 small pieces, although it’s not entirely clear whether all of these small pieces belong to the mechanism. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express. Why its discovery is so significant? But, it can't possibly be a computer... right? posted by mhoye at 5:45 AM on December 15 [11 favorites] Do you think there is more to this story? “Above this, another spiral dial indicates eclipses of the Sun and the Moon. READ MORE: Titanic artefact found after 100 years 'could have saved' passenger liner from iceberg. The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient mechanical analog computer (as opposed to digital computer) designed to calculate astronomical positions. It was extremely complex. For more impressive engineering feats. What do you think about the Antikythera mechanism? The Antikythera Mechanism tracked planetary positions, predicted lunar and solar eclipses, and even signalled the next Olympic Games. The Roman-Era wreckage was submerged about 150 feet down (45 mt). Researchers were scratching their heads when they discovered the Antikythera Mechanism 120 years ago too. 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