The Antikythera Mechanism

Kosmiche

Kosmiche

Kosmiche

Permabanned
Joined
3 Oct 2009
Posts
14,033
Location
North Wales
Inspired by the thread 'futuristic computer' I thought I'd make a thread about the antikythera mechanism, the earliest computer known to man.

It was a computer (no it couldn't run Crysis, a computer in the most primitive sense of the word) that could predict solar eclipses. Pretty amazing.

Its been dated to as early as 205 AD.

There was a very cool documentary about it called the 2000 year old computer and here it is...


Reccomended viewing for you casual sciency types.
 
I second that! This thing was so advanced for many different reasons... the required knowledge of maths, astronomy and workmanship to make it is astonishing.

If I was to make a list of the most advanced 'things' relative to the advancement of society at the time, this would easily be in the top 5 (if not no. 1), along with stuff like the space shuttle etc.
 
I have always been fascinated by this device because it makes me think what else might have existed at the time. Surely this can't have been a one off device.

It is far more likely that there was an evolution of devices before this one and then the possibility of more complex ones that came after it.
 
Eames said:
I don't get why they needed to predict solar eclipses and why it was important.
Click to expand...

I think you are looking at the device in isolation though which was my point above.

Knowing a simpler device worked, can you not envision a scenario where someone wanted to make one do a harder calculation. They looked around in the text books for something to base it on and thought sun and moon rotations would be a good one to do.
 
Yup, pretty awesome piece of kit considering the age (and the precision with which it was made with such primitive "manufacturing" techniques!!)

Enjoy:

 
I tought the metal had recently been tested and it turned out to be much older than previously estimated and from the Babylon region.
 
It's OK, 7.5/10. Some bloke made a reproduction in his shed, so it can't be that high tech. :D

It's either, ancient civilizations are just a throw away from cavemen, or have some kind alien superpowers.

They knew some stuff, spent a lot of time looking up. A lot had to be rediscovered because so much was lost. They made all kind of mechanical devices. Clepsydras, siege machines, sextants...
 
One of the theories surrounding Stonehenge is that it also predicted solar eclipses. Two rings of 29 and 30 holes (Aubrey Holes) which no longer exist surrounded the site which is the perfect number for monitor the lunar and solar cycles.

http://www.math.nus.edu.sg/aslaksen/gem-projects/hm/0102-1-stonehenge/eclipses.htm

Even more impressive seeing as it's over 5,000 years old. That's your evolution of devices MookJong :p.
 
Eames said:
I don't get why they needed to predict solar eclipses and why it was important.
Click to expand...

Solar eclipses were considered highly significant by the ancients. They were interpreted as heavenly signs, omens, warnings, etc.

Events occurring at the same time as an eclipse were considered to have special importance. If you could predict an eclipse, events could be scheduled to occur at the appropriate time. The propaganda value of such an arrangement cannot be underestimated.

Eames said:
Inspired by the thread 'futuristic computer' I thought I'd make a thread about the antikythera mechanism, the earliest computer known to man.
Click to expand...

/ancientaliens.jpg

:p
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom