World's First Computer Displayed Olympic Calendar

Scientists have finished there recreation of the famed Antikythera Mechanism.


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The world's first known scientific instrument plotted the positions of celestial bodies nineteen years into the future -- and as an added bonus, it kept track of upcoming Olympics.

Dubbed the Antikythera Mechanism, the device perplexed archaeologists and captured the world's imagination. Such craftsmanship wouldn't be seen for another 1,000 years -- but its purpose was a mystery.

A dictionary-size assemblage of 37 interlocking dials crafted with the precision and complexity of a 19th century Swiss clock, the machine was recovered in 1900 from a shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera. Scientists dated it to 150 BC.







[edit on 30/7/08 by Hanslune]

Two other short threads also came up later, might want to combine.

The Greeks wrote about such machines

One hypothesis is that the device was constructed at an academy founded by the ancient Stoic philosopher Posidonius on the Greek island of Rhodes, which at the time was known as a centre of astronomy and mechanical engineering.

As the new finds of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project suggest that it was made around 150 to 100 BC, well before the time of Posidonius, it is possible that the great astronomer Hipparchus was the genius engineer who constructed it. Hipparchus was the most important astronomer of that time and worked for a long period in Rhodes, Greece. The Mechanism contains a lunar mechanism which uses Hipparchus' theory for the motion of the Moon and this also suggests strong ties of the Mechanism to Hipparchus.

It is possible that the mechanism is based on heliocentric principles, rather than the then-dominant geocentric view espoused by Aristotle and others. The heliocentric view proposed by Aristarchus of Samos (310 BC - c. 230 BC) did not receive widespread recognition, but provides for the possibility of the existence of such a system at this time.

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I have been looking for updates on this machine since I first learned about it many years ago.

We should give the ancients more credit than we do!

reply to post by Hanslune


I saw a program on History Channel where they had mechanical dramas. They were like large wind up shows. This is a cool find, thanks for sharing it.

Imagine where we would be today, technology wise, if not for the collapse of the Roman Empire. No 1000 year period of ignorance and religious zealotry, I wonder if we'd have flying cars by now?!

Not to say that the Romans were perfect, but then again, neither are we.

These are the kind of stories ATS should have more of, incredibly interesting, provable, scientific or technological devices that show the past had incredible knowledge and sophistication, something that can change people's ideas of the past, and something that can be debated. Not that the occasional alien hybrid topic isn't nice, but i would love to see more posts like this.

Thank Ruggeder

As I have time I'll start a series on ancient technology - the stuff we know they could do.

Hey Monger

A couple did a study based on that concept in the 1950's (where we would be if the Roman's hadn't collasped) It also followed the line that China wouldn't shut down its progress either.

Despite the Roman lack of scientific ambition it was thought that more contact - and an expanding Roman empire would have generated more science. They thought we'd be (SWAG here I read that a long time ago) around two centuries. However it would be a limited technology more focused, higher in some areas but lower in others. ie the Romans and Chinese would have avoided manpower saving devices and concentrated on transportation and weaponry.

A very excellent video on the Antikytheria device, gives insight into how it was made.

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