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Mystery of the Antikythera Mechanism Solved!
After having set for decades, this strange lump of bronze salvaged by a sponge diver off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera was finally recognized by an archaeologist as some kind of analog computer a number of years ago.
What's the big deal? Bronze clockwork mechanisms are pretty common, after all. Well, this particular "computer" happened to be over 2,000 years old, having come from the wreck of a Roman vessel from around 65 BCE.
What is even more amazing is that this mechanism had over 80 parts, including differential gears which were previously thought to have been invented in the 16th century.
After years of painstaking research, including x-rays and hi-resolution surface scans, the purpose of this device has finally been revealed; it's actually a very accurate device for measuring the movement of astronomical bodies, such as the sun and moon through the phases of the zodiac. As well, the device allows for the precise prediction of eclipses and accounts for the first lunar anomaly, which is an irregularity in the orbit of the moon.
Read the full article here. (This article contains an irregularity of it's own, stating that an astronomer named Hipparcus of Rhodes discovered the first lunar anomaly in the 2nd century BCE and that some scientists believe that he my have been consulted in the design of the device. However, the same article suggests that the device was constructed between 150 and 100 BCE, a good century before Hipparcus would have been around to consult with, strange!)
I have often wondered how close the ancient world was to a full blown industrial revolution, we'll never know for sure, but I think it may have been a lot closer than most people suspect! Imagine where we would be today if digital computer technology had been invented 2000 years ago!
Posted by Dylon on November 30, 2006 2:01 AM |
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Re: Mystery of the Antikythera Mechanism Solved!
Personally, I think this curious device was mankind's first stab at a cell phone.
However, further units were banned upon pain of death due to an inordinate numbers of tragic accidnets involving chariots and distracted drivers.
Gee.
Seems somehow familiar.
Cheers!
John
Hmmmm, or maybe a bronze age GPS Unit is more likely? I wonder if chariots had a spot for dash mounting? Just don’t try and wind it up whilst racing around the coliseum!
You may be on to something.
RomeStar has been documented in some of the early circa 200 A.D. marketing texts as a safety device for those citizens who had unfortunate breakdowns.
"Hello - this is RomeStar."
"Yeah - I Claudius have a bit of problem here. My main steed, Remus, was distracted by the crazy number of crucifixions during today's rush hour on the Apian Way. She stumbled and I had to thrust my sword though her heart to still her pain.
Any chance of getting a new steed out here?"
"Yes Claudius, but did you try your whip on your steed?"
"No, let me see.... *CRACK*!"
"Holy Caesar salad - that worked!"
"Thanks RomeStar!"
April 2008