In 1900 some sponge divers off the
Greek island 'Antikythera'
found a shipwreck containing a wooden box the size of, or smaller
than, a modern laptop carrying bag.
Inside was a mechanism, albeit
corroded, of surprising complexity. In 1974, after Xray analysis, a
70-page paper was published in Nature and it was seen that the
mechanism simply was not explained by our accepted history. From 2005
dedicated research using modern techniques and computer simulation
showed that the term 'surprising complexity' is an understatement!
Now dated as being from around 100-200 BC, it was a clockwork device
comprising thirty meshing bronze gears. In contrast, a 'modern'
mantelpiece wind-up carriage clock has probably only about seven. To
emphasise the historical context, this is a century or two before
Jesus...
Models and simulations have been made
and this item turns out to describe (that is, predict), month, day,
hour of an eclipse, also accounting for leap years. It could also
predict the positions of the sun and moon against the zodiac, and a
black and white stone turns to show the moon's phase on a given date!
It could also show the astronomical positions of the solar system
planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Major athletic
competitions (such as the Olympics) every two or four years were also
indicated. In modern terminology it could correctly be dubbed a
mechanical 'Analogue Computer'.
The mechanical design actually took
account of the irregular (elliptical) motion of the moon, though many
experts even now still believe that the Ancients did not have such
knowledge. The words of Sherlock Holmes come to mind: 'Once you
eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable,
must be the truth.'
This is left for the reader to ponder!
An online search for more information
is rewarding and is recommended because the true wonder of this
device is astounding when one sees it in action!
References:
'In search of lost time'(Nature)
'Advanced Imaging Reveals a Computer
1,500 Years Ahead of Its Time'
Antikythera: A 2,000-year-old Greek
computer comes back to life
