Antikythera Mechanism is the first analog computer
amazing technology in world history, built 2200 years ago
New findings have emerged about the ancient world’s inaugural analog computer, capable of computing solar and lunar eclipses with precision, now verified on NASA’s official website.
The Antikythera Mechanism, a marvel of ancient technology crafted 2200 years ago, adeptly calculated the celestial positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets. Its remarkable accuracy extended to forecasting lunar phases and predicting solar and lunar eclipses. These revelations were recently confirmed through an application accessible on NASA’s official platform.
At an event organized by the Technical Chamber of Central Macedonia in partnership with the Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Projection of the Antikythera Mechanism “Ioannis Seiradakis” of AUTH, and the HELLENIC SOCIETY for Environment & Culture, engineers from Thessaloniki were apprised of the mechanism’s intricate functions and the latest discoveries about it.
Professor Emeritus Kyriakos Efstathiou, from the Mechanical Engineering Department of AUTH, highlighted the global discussion about the mechanism’s purpose. “Foreign colleagues initially viewed it as an educational tool rather than a scientific instrument for ancient astronomical schools. Our group staunchly argued the opposite and, with thorough research, conclusively validated our stance,” he enthusiastically explained.
Describing their approach, Efstathiou elaborated, “We reconstructed a new model mirroring the original, except for the front face detailing dates and zodiac constellations, aligned with contemporary astronomical knowledge. We simulated the mechanism’s operation in virtual reality, enabling predictions centuries into the past and future, astonishingly accurate. When a prediction, such as a solar eclipse, is made, the application links directly to the NASA website, instantly validating the fact.”
Mr. Efstathiou further revealed the presence of astronomical, geographical, and technical inscriptions on the mechanism’s outer plates and inner parts, which, with innovative research techniques, allowed the reading of texts lost for over two millennia, all scripted in Greek characters. The complexity of the Antikythera Mechanism surpasses that of any known man-made device for the subsequent millennium.
The Antikythera Mechanism’s discovery dates back 123 years when it was found in a shipwreck. The significance of this ancient technological wonder continues to captivate researchers, unearthing new methods and processes, such as accurately determining Easter dates and predicting solar or lunar eclipses.
Archaeologist Alexandros Tourtas delved into the archaeological context of the Mechanism’s discovery, tracing its retrieval from the depths after Symi sponge divers stumbled upon bronze statues on the island of Antikythera 123 years ago, initiating investigations that led to the retrieval of parts of the Antikythera Mechanism.
