The Antikythera Mechanism is an ancient Greek analog computer that was discovered in 1901 in the Antikythera shipwreck, which was located off the coast of the island of Antikythera, between mainland Greece and Crete. It dates back to around 100–200 BCE and is often considered the world’s oldest known mechanical device.
The device was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes. It consists of a complex system of gears and is housed in a wooden casing. The mechanism likely had a number of dials and hands that could display the positions of the Sun, Moon, and possibly the planets, as well as predict solar and lunar eclipses.
Over the years, studies have shown that the Antikythera Mechanism is a sophisticated piece of engineering that highlights the advanced technological knowledge of the ancient Greeks. It was able to model the cycles of the solar system with remarkable precision, including the Metonic cycle (which relates to the relationship between the lunar and solar years) and the Saros cycle (which deals with eclipses).
The mechanism was operated by turning a hand-crank, which would move the gears and hands on the dials. Its discovery has significantly changed our understanding of ancient Greek technology, showing that they possessed a level of mechanical sophistication that was previously thought to be unattainable until the medieval period.
It’s a fascinating example of how ancient civilizations were able to achieve remarkable scientific and engineering feats.