The Antikythera Mechanism from 205 BC

Abstract

There are many mysteries in the world left over from antiquity. For them we often say that it is the intervention of God or the creation of aliens. We have to look deeper into the facts and try to come up with some plausible explanation. One of the mysteries is the Antikythera Mechanism of 205 BC. It represents an ancient prototype of a computer, a multi-functional complex apparatus. Researchers have set about trying to figure out what it was for. It was discovered accidentally while sailing in 1901 off the coast of one of the many Greek islands—Antikythera.Information has been found from ancient authors who describe the Antikythera Mechanism. Its main functions were: a solar calendar showing the days and months, as well as the Babylonian zodiac; a lunisolar calendar showing the months; a calendar showing eclipse cycles—past and future solar and lunar eclipses; a calendar showing the years in which the Olympic Games will be held. Thanks to the Antikythera Mechanism and a few more from the so-called Wonders of the Ancient World, we can judge how much knowledge about the world people had more than two millennia ago.