The Antikythera Mechanism

Posted by Robin Fowler Jun 14, 2006

Found by Greek divers in 1900 on a shipwreck dating to Roman times (approximately 80 B.C., the device known as the Antikythera Mechanism, it was examined, and determined to be some type of calendar or clock device, complete with dials and gears, innovations that are usually attirbuted to the Renaissance era.

After restoration of the bronze object (found off the coast of Crete), and translation of the wordage on it, it has been concluded that this device is nothing less than a computer which was used to calculate distances and positions of planets and starts, as well as used to predict astonomical events, such as eclipses and such.

Such a fascinating discovery expands the scope of ancient history greatly. We already wonder at how the Pyramids, the Parthenon, and the Colisseum were built so quickly and accurately. Though occurring 2 millenia ago, innovations of the Greeks (and other ancient civilizations) such as this one prove that ancient history does not equal primitive history.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/msid-1641341,curpg-2.cms

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism