What is the Antikythera mechanism?
Quick Answer
The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient Greek geared device, about 2,000 years old, that predicted astronomical positions and eclipses — often called the oldest known analogue computer.
The Full Story
Sponge divers discovered a Roman-era shipwreck off the Greek island of Antikythera in 1900, and in 1901 corroded bronze fragments were recovered. Decades of study, including X-ray and CT scans, revealed at least 30 interlocking bronze gears. By turning a handle, users could track the positions of the Sun and Moon, the phases of the Moon, and predict eclipses, as well as the cycle of the ancient Olympic Games. It is generally dated to around the 2nd or 1st century BCE. Nothing of comparable mechanical complexity is known again until medieval astronomical clocks.
Key Facts
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"A 2,000-year-old computer pulled from the sea — how it worked."