The Antikythera Mechanism

[Putaendo Patrick]

Perhaps the most interesting and curious archaeological object related to astronomy is the Antikythera mechanism. It was discovered a little over 100 years ago in 2nd century B.C. shipwreck near the Greek island of Antikythera and is now in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.

After more than 2,000 years on the seabed, it is obviously in poor condition and badly damaged. However a variety of complex imaging techniques have begun to unravel its secrets. It is a very sophisticated mechanical "computer" to calculate the cycles of the Solar System.

For an overview, see:

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

And for more detail:

http://www.antikythera-mechanism.gr/

For me, the most fascinating aspect of this unique surviving object is that presumably it was not unique in its day. It reveals a level of scientific knowledge and technology which may have been available at least in the eastern Mediterranean. 

[Bizibilder]

A rather more recent one!

 

 

[Stub Mandrel]

It's worth spending a few moments thinking about the range of skills that went into the Antikythera mechanism.

Greek technology was pretty impressive ... and we still don't know how to make Greek Fire.

[laudropb]

I saw a documentary about this discovery a year or so ago, but can't for the life of me remember where.

[Putaendo Patrick]

There are several documentaries on the Antikythera mechanism on Youtube.

[Ruud]

Thanks Patrick, it's a most impressive instrument that has fascinated me for many years.

[chiltonstar]

I always wonder what its predecessors were like - it obviously wasn't the first such machine constructed.

Chris

[Stub Mandrel]

29 minutes ago, chiltonstar said:

I always wonder what its predecessors were like - it obviously wasn't the first such machine constructed.

Chris

Do a google on 'Hero of Alexandria'.

This page summarises some of his works to be found on the web: http://www.roger-pearse.com/weblog/2011/11/26/translations-of-the-works-of-hero-of-alexandria/

[Putaendo Patrick]

So when I try to buy a cold drink from a vending machine and it eats my money, I can blame Hero of Alexandria?

Seriously, fascinating stuff!

[jambouk]

I heard Professor Mike Edmunds (http://www.astro.cardiff.ac.uk/contactsandpeople/?id=123&page=full) talk about this machine and his involvement in the project to analyse it last year at a public lecture hosted by Nottingham Trent University (one of their professional astronomers arranges a monthly public lecture on astronomy-related topics which is great; https://www.ntu.ac.uk/sat/facilities/trent_astronomical_observatory/index.html). The story of its discovery, and the how they worked out what it does is amazing. Mike Edmunds is also a fascinating and engaging man, very unassuming and such a relaxed and enchanting lecture to listen to.

In fact Mike Edmunds is coming to my local astronomical society later this year (July) to do the same talk and give an update. If anyone is in the East Midlands and wants to come along send me a message: http://nottinghamastro.org.uk/?page_id=87

James

 

[stevepeverall]

Quote

I saw a documentary about this discovery a year or so ago, but can't for the life of me remember where.

This documentary gets shown once or twice a year on BBC 4 under the title "The 2000 year old supercomputer"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoS75-0BRWo

I've seen it a few times and it's well worth a view.

[JB80]

Same here, that is one of my favourite documentaries in recent times, I have lost track of how many times I have watched it.
It would be nice to have a similar doco out now that has been updated with the latest theories. I once chased down a book that was written on it, I think by an Italian guy and it was somewhat pricey. I did pass the link and email conversation on to Mrs Christmas that year but nothing ever turned up.

[spike95609]

I've seen that BBC4 documentary a few times. It's an utterly fascinating object when you consider all the cogs and all the little astronomical intricacies which are woven into it, like the offset wheel to take into account the moon being slightly closer or further away during the year, drawing on information which the Babylonians had discovered. It certainly started off my interest in historical astronomy.

[jambouk]

I stumbled on this 1974 publication today and will be going back for a better look once time allows:

 

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B011YTQBEO/ref=mp_s_a_1_4?qid=1454618476&sr=8-4&pi=AC_SX236_SY340_QL65&keywords=greek+gears+1974&dpPl=1&dpID=412DQi82YzL&ref=plSrch

 

james

[Dave Lloyd]

Years ago when I first saw a documentary about this artefact I suspected it might be a hoax similar to piltdown man. So glad it wasn't. What else is lying under the Med and Aegean?

[Putaendo Patrick]

James - Derek de Solla Price's work on the Antikythera Mechanism in the 1970s was ground breaking work. His analysis and tentative reconstructions formed the basis for much of the subsequent recent investigation. Since de Solla Price, however, one of the most important developments has been subjecting the Mechanism to new imaging techniques which have clearly revealed many of the inscriptions. This new information means that much of the 1974 publication has to be revised and corrected.

[Knight of Clear Skies]

The BBC documentary works on two levels, as it doesn't just explain the device itself but also the detective work behind figuring out its function and workings. I can also recommend this book about it.

[Alien 13]

On 1/27/2016 at 16:10, chiltonstar said:

I always wonder what its predecessors were like - it obviously wasn't the first such machine constructed.

Chris

I wonder if there was any later improved models or other instruments designed for calculations.

Alan

[Knight of Clear Skies]

5 minutes ago, Alien 13 said:

I wonder if there was any later improved models or other instruments designed for calculations.

Alan

There almost certainly had to be others, it would be a remarkable co-incidence if we found the only device of this type happened to turn up on a shipwreck. Just goes to show how easily history swallows entire chapters. If the ship had gone down somewhere else, or even reached port, the history of mechanical computing would start in the 17th century for all we knew.

[Alien 13]

8 minutes ago, Knight of Clear Skies said:

There almost certainly had to be others, it would be a remarkable co-incidence if we found the only device of this type happened to turn up on a shipwreck. Just goes to show how easily history swallows entire chapters. If the ship had gone down somewhere else, or even reached port, the history of mechanical computing would start in the 17th century for all we knew.

I agree, the chances of finding "the only" evidence of advanced technology is beyond belief we have a lot to learn still one thing is evident to me though is that this type of technology would make excellent accurate clocks.

Alan

[Paul M]

On 1/30/2016 at 21:36, stevepeverall said:

This documentary gets shown once or twice a year on BBC 4 under the title "The 2000 year old supercomputer"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BoS75-0BRWo

I've seen it a few times and it's well worth a view.

I've just watched this and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Of course their conclusion must be completely wrong, they never consulted Erich von Daniken 

[Soupy]

Thanks for the links guys, have always had a fascination with this. It's amazing such technology existed so long ago. 

[astrotyke]

Yea I saw the program about this before, think it was on a year ago or so, but very interesting.

[symesie04]

On 26/01/2016 at 17:55, Stub Mandrel said:

It's worth spending a few moments thinking about the range of skills that went into the Antikythera mechanism.

Greek technology was pretty impressive ... and we still don't know how to make Greek Fire.

err surely for greek fire just a bottle of ouzo and a bowl of chillies will lead to the path of enlightenment

[stevepeverall]

Quote

I can also recommend this book about it.

Thanks Knight of Clear Skies. This has just gone on my summer reading list.