Flash presentation
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I know there have been lots of FR topics about this item, but my Auntie Kythera told me it would be nice to post this update. |
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Did it record time in milliseconds until Jan 1st, 1970 or did it have a Y0K problem?
Interesting read - thanks.
I read that when the device was first discovered, scientists refused to believe it was ca. first century. They posited that some Medieval ship either sank on top of the old wreck or that it was lost overboard in the Middle Ages. Somewhat like some of their explain-aways on UFOs or pre-Indians in the Americas.
What always blew my mind was the intricacy of the meshing gears. Remember that the teeth were all cut buy hand and resembled shark’s teeth. As with any gear teeth, precision is critical, and to think that some artisans of that early date were able to create something of this complexity (over 30 gears) without the machine jamming borders on sorcery.
The good news- the ancients were mathematical and mechanical geniuses.
The bad news - they used this genius to cast astrology charts.
Glad you posted this - I saw it in USA today and we can only post the links to their stuff.
Cool pics at link
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2008-07-30-device_N.htm
Ping for later read....