Antikythera Mechanism First Computer?

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NATURAL ANKLING
Posts: 13780
Joined: 24 Oct 2012, 10:43pm
Location: English Riviera

Antikythera Mechanism First Computer?

Post by NATURAL ANKLING »

Hi,
This was in the news recently.
Problem was that it assumed we were the centre of the planets not our sun.
60-70 BC.
Geared mechs were around before this, clocks too but not accurate until Verge Escapement 13th century.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Escapement

8 tonne X ray machine was used to look inside the encrusted remains, tomography.
https://greekreporter.com/2021/03/13/an ... cientists/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56377567
Attachments
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism#/media/File:NAMA_Machine_d'Anticyth%C3%A8re_1.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism#/media/File:NAMA_Machine_d'Anticyth%C3%A8re_1.jpg
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84310-w
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84310-w
NA Thinks Just End 2 End Return + Bivvy - Some day Soon I hope
You'll Still Find Me At The Top Of A Hill
Please forgive the poor Grammar I blame it on my mobile and phat thinkers.
Jdsk
Posts: 24640
Joined: 5 Mar 2019, 5:42pm

Re: Antikythera Mechanism First Computer?

Post by Jdsk »

"A Model of the Cosmos in the ancient Greek Antikythera Mechanism"
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-021-84310-w

Jonathan

PS: I've always liked the Lego replica, but it might now need to be updated:

[youtube]RLPVCJjTNgk[/youtube]
pwa
Posts: 17371
Joined: 2 Oct 2011, 8:55pm

Re: Antikythera Mechanism First Computer?

Post by pwa »

I first became aware of this thing about 8 years ago with this BBC documentary. It shows that humans have not really got any cleverer. There have always been really clever people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1n7RjCMfQ
kwackers
Posts: 15643
Joined: 4 Jun 2008, 9:29pm
Location: Warrington

Re: Antikythera Mechanism First Computer?

Post by kwackers »

pwa wrote:I first became aware of this thing about 8 years ago with this BBC documentary. It shows that humans have not really got any cleverer. There have always been really clever people.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3T1n7RjCMfQ

It's only about 2000 years ago, we were pretty clever back then - in fact it's even possible we were cleverer.
Gears were a well understood thing.

There are certain aspects of mechanics that are simple when you know them but took us a surprising amount of time to work out.
Cranks, chains etc etc.

The thing that amazes me the most about the mechanism is that we can figure out what it is/did from that crusty relic.
KTHSullivan
Posts: 587
Joined: 4 Aug 2017, 1:15pm
Location: Wind Swept Lincolnshire

Re: Antikythera Mechanism First Computer?

Post by KTHSullivan »

I believe the mechanism was even capable of calculating lunar nutation and the retrograde movement of Mars. A significant amount of the maths used today came out of ancient Greece, probably as a result of there proximity and influence Middle Eastern states at the time. They used extensive astronomical calculations to predict religious festivals and still do.

I feel there is often the assumption that ancient cultures were somehow scientifically deficient. They of course had the same intellectual capacity and inquisitiveness of the natural world as we do today.

A truly wonderful artefact

K
Just remember, when you’re over the hill, you begin to pick up speed. :lol:
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