Antikythera •

Antikythera Calculated Ancient Greeks’ Fortune

June 13, 2016 By Germaine Hicks Leave a Comment

Two modern reconstructions of Antikythera.

Scientists have long tried to decipher the purpose of Antikythera Mechanism and understand its place in the Ancient Greek’s world. The technological secret was somehow lost over the centuries, and the complexity of the device was achieved again only hundreds of years later.

Antikythera was discovered in 1901 on a shipwreck near the Greek island Antikythera.

The instrument is displayed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, and it comprises a complicated system of gears. It had been dated to 60 BC, and it was most probably used by ancient Greeks to calculate the dates of solar and lunar eclipses.

Until now, scientists have tried to understand the internal mechanism of the instrument. However, another team has worked for over a decade to decode the inscriptions made on the outside of the gears.

The theory says that the mechanism shows planets and the positions of the sun and the moon. However, the sky map has an additional metaphysical purpose. Scientists discovered that ancient Greeks took into consideration the color of the eclipse. Although not yet proved, the color was seen as an omen.

Scientists believe that the instrument helped Greeks not only to understand the planetary movements but also to get a feeling of their position in the cycles of the Universe. If the theories proved to be correct, this would be the first time Antikythera shows to have not just an astronomical purpose, but also an astrological one.

Antikythera is thought to have been built on the islands of Rhodes in a small workshop, and it had been referred to in more than a dozen pieces of classical literature.

The calculator could perform simple mathematical operations, such as addition and multiplication. It could also align the sun and the moon in the zodiac, and display the lunar calendar.

Antikythera is a rusted piece of metal with visible gears and triangular teeth. One side handle would stir almost seven hands that would indicate the position of the Sun, the moon, and also the place of five other planets that must have been visible to the naked eye: Mercury, Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn.

On the surface of the instrument, scientists found 3,500 characters which they had to unveil from the rust. As there is little information on the ancient Greeks’ technology, researchers are very enthusiastic.

The text described the instrument and its function, while the mechanism should have shown the dates of the lunar and solar eclipses. The Ancient Greeks believed that both events could influence human affairs.

Even though it was imperfect, it reflected precisely the ancient astronomical knowledge.

Scientists have not yet discovered why the technology was lost. The complexity of the mechanics remained unique for more than 1,000 years, and only the later medieval clocks in the European cathedrals were able to match the same level of technology.

The researchers are now looking for other missing fragments at the site of the shipwreck, as Antikythera could prove to be a much more intriguing instrument.

Image Source: YouTube

Scientists Uncover More Secrets from Antikythera’s Ship

October 11, 2014 By Rebecca McGhee Leave a Comment

More than 2000 years ago, an ancient ship that drowned the coast of Antikythera, a remote Greek Island with innumerable artifacts and devices, including the world’s oldest computer. It’s believed to have been used to make astronomical predictions. The sunken ship remained undiscovered until the spring of 1900.

The divers have been visiting the site since 1900. Ilias Stadiatis (diver) found the wreckage at a depth of around 50 meters. He brought that wreckage back to the surface with an arm of a bronze statue. The recovery was ultimately called off in the 1900, after one diver died from the crooks and the two were seriously injured.

Recently, an international team of researchers has been back at the Antikythera site along with the high-tech exosuit. This exosuit enables divers to spend 3 hours in the water and uses Rebreather tech to scour CO2 out of the exhaled air.

With exosuits and other gizmos, scientists along with the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports mapped the seafloor in the past three weeks and came back with a veer of fresh finds, including including an intact table jug, part of a bed leg and a 2 meter-long bronze spear.

Angeliki Simossi, director of Greece’s underwater antiquities department stated in his interview with Press, “I really don’t know what is there, maybe more works of art or parts of the ship’s equipment, but we really have to dig. It was not just a ship, but a floating museum carrying works from various periods; one bronze statue dates from 340 B.C., another from 240 B.C., while the Antikythera Mechanism was made later. This was when the trade in works of art started.”

Brendan Foley, who works for the Wood Hole Oceangraphic Institution stated that, “The evidence shows this is the largest ancient shipwreck ever discovered. Seems it’s the Titanic of the ancient world.”

Foley is one of the archaeologists working to further explore the sunken ocean liner. Both an International scientists and the Greek researchers team have been planning a return trip to the site next year.

The researchers believed that the shipwreck site was too bigger than the earlier sponge divers believed. Wreckage covers 300 meters of the sea floor and the length of the ship is up to 50 meters long.

Theotokis Theodoulou, who described the new discoveries as ‘very promising’. He further stated that, “We have a lot of work to do at this site to uncover its secrets.”

Greek Shipwreck Could Be Largest Like Titanic of the Ancient World

October 10, 2014 By Germaine Hicks Leave a Comment

Around 2000 years ago, a Greek ship sank off the coast of Antikythera. The sunken ship remained undiscovered until the spring of 1900. Stormy seas escorted sponge divers to dive alongside the island’s coast.

Ilias Stadiatis (diver) found the wreckage at a depth of around 50 meters. He brought that wreckage back to the surface with an arm of a bronze statue.

Researchers have found a treasure trove of artifacts, including statues, jewelry and the Antikythera Mechanism, often called the first known computer. It’s believed to have been used to make astronomical predictions.

Certainly, the recovery was called off in the 1900, after one diver died from the crooks and the two were seriously injured.

Now again, an international team of researchers is back at the Antikythera site along with the high-tech exosuit. This exosuit enables divers to spend 3 hours in the water and uses Rebreather tech to scour CO2 out of the exhaled air.

Recently, it has been observed by the researchers that the shipwreck site was too bigger than the earlier sponge divers believed. Wreckage covers 300 meters of the sea floor. The researchers stated that the length of the ship is up to 50 meters long.

Moreover, the archaeologists and divers made numerous findings at the site, including an intact table jug, part of a bed leg and a 2 meter-long bronze spear.

According to the official reports, the team is planning a return trip to the site next year. Theotokis Theodoulou, who described the new discoveries as ‘very promising’. He further stated that, “We have a lot of work to do at this site to uncover its secrets.”

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