An 'astonishing' computer that dates to roughly 2,000 years ago has been found by archaeologists.
At 2,000 years old, the Antikythera mechanism is a hand-powered orrery — a mechanical model of the Solar System (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
In Greece, archaeologists are accustomed to discovering antiquities. After all, the nation formerly served as the home of the Ancient Greeks, who flourished thousands of years ago and had a significant impact on math, medicine, astronomy, and philosophy.
They were responsible for a number of world-changing discoveries, including the fact that the planets revolve around the Sun, the size of the moon, the circumference of the Earth, and the development of the first astronomical calculator. Now, this most recent discovery has once more astounded specialists.
The Antikythera mechanism, the first known analog computer, is a hand-powered orrery that depicts the solar system in mechanical form. It is 2,000 years old. It is thought that the ancient civilization would have utilized it to foretell eclipses and astronomical locations decades in advance.
In order for the Olympics to take place every four years, they also used it to keep track of the Olympic cycle. The Antikythera mechanism was discovered in 1901, long before analog computers were invented. It was discovered among the debris that was recovered after a shipwreck off the coast of the identical Greek island.
It was discovered to have a hidden piece of gear by archaeologist Valerios Stais a year later. Professor Tony Freeth of University College London (UCL), who has conducted in-depth study on the system and revealed its secrets and complexities, was contacted by the BBC.
Along with the Antikythera mechanism, researchers discovered marble statues, vases, exquisite jewelry, and ancient money. According to Prof. Freeth, "no one knew quite what to do with" the peculiar artifact at the time. He said: "It was not recognized as being anything interesting when it was discovered, it was just a corroded lump about the size of a large dictionary."
However, there was much excitement when Mr. Stais discovered gear wheels inside because of what it indicated for the object's significance and social position. Anything from Ancient Greece shouldn't contain gear wheels, thus this was the first surprise, according to Prof. Freeth. These gears were precise and had millimeter-long teeth. And the whole thing was simply shocking.
It's currently on display at a museum in Athens ( Image: AFP via Getty Images)
But why exactly did the Greeks of antiquity require such a thing? According to Professor Freeth, the Greeks' fixation with astrology holds the key to the solution. It was really amazing back then to think that your scientific theories might be automated, he remarked.
The Antikythera mechanism, which is split into 82 pieces and has a large portion missing, is currently on display at an Athens museum. But because of advances in technology, Professor Freeth and his team were able to collect data from every item using an eight-ton X-ray machine.
"When we first looked at the results it was astonishing because it showed us not only all the gear wheels in three dimensions so we could separate them, but it showed us all these new inscriptions in the fragments as well," he remarked.
They have been able to compile a wide range of data and create the first-ever image of the device's front. To further investigate how technologically proficient the Ancient Greeks were and whether any other secrets are concealed within the Antikythera mechanism, Prof. Freeth plans to take his study and construct a full-scale physical model of the device.
