Posted on 05/24/2020 6:22:58 PM PDT by bitt
115 years ago, divers found a hunk of bronze off a Greek island. It changed our understanding of human history.
One hundred fifteen years ago, an archeologist was sifting through objects found in the wreck of a 2,000-year-old vessel off the Greek island Antikythera. Among the wreck’s treasures — beautiful vases and pots, jewelry, a bronze statue of an ancient philosopher — was the most peculiar thing: a series of brass gears and dials mounted in a case the size of a mantel clock. Archeologists dubbed the instrument the Antikythera mechanism. The genius — and mystery — of this piece of ancient Greek technology, arguably the world’s first computer, is why Google is highlighting it today in a Google Doodle.
What is the Antikythera mechanism? At first glance, the piece of brass found near the wreck looks like something you might find in a junkyard or hanging on the wall of a maritime-themed dive bar. What remains of the mechanism is a set of rusted brass gears sandwiched into a rotting wooden box.
But if you look into the machine, you see evidence of at least two dozen gears, laid neatly on top of one another, calibrated with the precision of a master-crafted Swiss watch. This was a level of technology that archeologists would usually date to the 16th century, not well before the first.
But a mystery remained: What was this contraption used for?
The world’s first mechanical computer? To archeologists, it was immediately apparent that the mechanism was some sort of clock, calendar, or calculating device. But they had no idea what it was for. For decades, they debated: Was the Antikythera a toy model of the planets? Or perhaps it was an early astrolabe (a device to calculate latitude)?
(Excerpt) Read more at vox.com ...
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rusted brass gears
= = =
Rusted brass?
Corroded, maybe.
“rusted brass gears”?
Remarkable. Just remarkable. Love the reconstruction, and the use of the pearl to show phases of the moon!
The first Olive-etti typewriter.
“You’ve got mail!”
Of course, there were geniuses back then, even in the Stone Age. But, I'm still astounded.
I know that most humans started and fought wars but in the whole concept I forget about the inventions.
The first Olive-ier watch.
Some kind of orrery maybe?
Bkmk
I used to pronounce it ‘anti ca-Thera’. But from now on I’m pronouncing it his English way, antikithera.
Always found that thing pretty interesting. I do love the pearl for the moon idea, too. Sort of poetic in its way :)
It’s my understanding that it is hard to date metal and rock. I just wonder if it is more likely that it was dropped into the ocean far more recently but happened to land in the exact area of a 2000 year old wreck. Isn’t it possible? How many wrecks in the area? Might it be Occam’s razor...???
If it really is that old it is truly remarkable, it just seems too remarkable.
GOD created Adam in His own likeness. Wouldn't He have given him an exceptional mind?
Virtual Reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism – Michael Wright & Mogi Vicentini (2009)
Naw you guys are all so wrong. ....it was Hannity’s gggggggreat Tic Toc used by the first reporter named Hannity-InterUP-tUS.
You got me there.
God also allowed retardation to exist.
Adam was probably fairly ordinary. Maybe Adam's FAITH in God was flawed, as he listened to Eve who had listened to Satan.
I dunno.
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