In 1902 an unusual mechanism was found in a shipwreck near Antikythera Island, Greece. Analysis of the finding showed that the unusual device was constructed around 100 B.C.
For years, scientists and historians have been struggling to find the exact purpose of this device. Just recently, more than a century later, they have concluded that the device was actually a kind of an ancient computer : a complex machine designed to actually predict the sun and moon movements as well as those of the six planets closest to Earth.
The amazing find is actually a stone with an embedded cogwheel including 30-70 hand-cut gears and, amazingly, it is 2,100 years old.
A BBC4 documentary shows just how much effort, knowledge, international teamwork and time it took for the experts to finally unravel the mystery of the Antikythera mechanism. The level of wisdom and knowledge of people back in 100 B.C. in astrology, physics, mathematics and engineering was stunning. The mechanism was so complex that it took a century and a huge group of people to resolve its purpose.
Just to mention one stunning fact : the mechanism even has a dial allowing one day to be added to the calendar in a leap year!
For years, scientists and historians have been struggling to find the exact purpose of this device. Just recently, more than a century later, they have concluded that the device was actually a kind of an ancient computer : a complex machine designed to actually predict the sun and moon movements as well as those of the six planets closest to Earth.
The amazing find is actually a stone with an embedded cogwheel including 30-70 hand-cut gears and, amazingly, it is 2,100 years old.
A BBC4 documentary shows just how much effort, knowledge, international teamwork and time it took for the experts to finally unravel the mystery of the Antikythera mechanism. The level of wisdom and knowledge of people back in 100 B.C. in astrology, physics, mathematics and engineering was stunning. The mechanism was so complex that it took a century and a huge group of people to resolve its purpose.
Just to mention one stunning fact : the mechanism even has a dial allowing one day to be added to the calendar in a leap year!
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