The Antikythera Mechanism

[The Ivy]

Since this is about the coolest thing I've read about all year, I thought I'd share. 

In the year 1900, a sponge diver in Greece discovered the wreck of an ancient cargo ship of the coast of Antikythera island.  Archaeologists soon began exploring the wreck, and on May 17, 1902, they discovered what appeared to be a rock with a metal star embedded into it.  Further inspection revealed that the "rock" was actually a corroded mechanism, and the star was a toothed metal gear.  It dated from approximately 100 years B.C.



Since its discovery, mathematicians have attempted to uncover its purpose, and create a working reconstruction of the mechanism.  For over 70 years, though, all they were able to deduce was that it was probably a device for calculating the movements of the stars and planets.

In the 1970s, X-Ray technology allowed scientists to peer inside the device, and what they found revealed a level of technological complexity that no one thought possible.  The device once included over 30 interlocking bronze gears, and uses a differential gear technology that wasn't thought to be invented until the 1600s.  Further examination revealed that this was not a simple orrery (moving diagram of the planets), but that it actually had an input device (a crank handle).  The current belief is that one could enter in a date, and the Antikythera Device would calculate the positions of the stars and planets for that date.  This would make it the world's oldest analog computer.



A few working reconstructions have been made, although they exclude the nearly 2000 characters of text found on the device's exterior. 





The translation is around 95% complete, but has not yet been published.

Add me to the list of people who can't wait to see what it says. 

Check out the Wikipedia article here.

Read up on the ongoing Antikythera Mechanism Research Project here.

[jetxl]

It says "Please return this watch to Eric Colossal, future New York."

[Scummbuddy]

No, it's a Flux Capacitor to be used in a future alternate timeline for when Back to the Future 4 comes out and the DeLorean gets stuck back 2100 years ago, and not 2100 AD.

[Kinoko]

That is seriously the most interesting thing I've heard since the Pluto thing, and it's more interesting than that so... we could be going back awhile! God, I love when new and interesting discoveries about technology in ancient times are made.

[Buckethead]

It says: "Don't touch my briel" (if you spell it like that)

[Darth Mandarb]

I actually have a recording of a history channel documentary on this ...

It's a supremely fascinating glimpse into the "ancient" technologies that we thought we modern folk had created.

The program goes over the "helenistic" era talking about Archimedies and other inventors/thinkers of antiquity.  If you have the means, pick it up (I think you can NetFlix it if you're in America ... don't know about other countries).  It's well worth the watch if you're interested in this.

[Alynn]

They shouldn't mess with it... technology is demonic...

[ManicMatt]

Fascinating! The mind ponders..

It's actually a steering wheel, as used by Fred Flinstone.

[Ali]

I say Terry Jones talking about this on the BBC, it is amazing. It makes you wonder what the world would be like if the Romans and other european cultures had been more interested in preserving and developing the knowledge of ancient Greece.

Instead, we spent the middle ages with our fingers up our noses trying to turn pigs into gold.

[Shane 'ProgZmax' Stevens]

Pigs are made out of lead!? 

[Alynn]

Haven't you heard of pig iron... and obviously you need lead to make iron.... and you need iron to keep your clothes wrinkle free.. And everyone knows wrinkle free clothes is the sign of advanced civilization.

That's why aliens are always naked, they've even advanced beyond wrinkle free clothing.

[Huw Dawson]

Or that they were part of a nudeist movement that got thrown off their home planet.  :

- Huw

[The Ivy]

Hey Darth, thanks for the tip.Ã,  I'll definitely look into that documentary.Ã,  I'm such a sucker for those History/Discovery Channel specials about ancient civilizations.

It is interesting to think how history could have turned if the ancient Greeks had an understanding of the scientific method.Ã,  It's quite possible that we would have been worse off environmentally than we are now.Ã,  From gears they could have developed steam power, which requires the burning of fuel (probably from wood).Ã,  It could have lead to mass deforestation, especially if they couldn't find another energy source.

However, centuries later when steam power was developed, we also had electricity and coal.Ã,  Anyway, I'll stop now before I hurt my head too much.Ã,  But don't be surprised if there's a bronze age civilization with gear technology in my next game .

[MrColossal]

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

The Greeks had a steam engine but apparently they saw it as an amusement

"Look at that, it turns! How cute! Oh well..."

Imagine if someone just accidentally attached a rope to one of the spigots... Steam Punk wouldn't be so cool but just imagine!