World's oldest computer found in Greece

Since I came across this "device", twenty years ago, I've seen plenty of theories about it's purpose...

Really interesting.

Did it "crash" like modern computers? :wink:

After seeing your title (world's oldest compurer found....) I thought that something new was founded .


Anyway for the ones interested more, the Antikythera mechanism was a device used for astronomical observations. It is formed by 30 different cogwheels, which are placed eccentry. When someone was moving the cogwheels with a special axle for that purpose, indications were showing the orbit of the Sun, the orbit and the phases of the moon and all the planets of the Zodiac circle. Inside the device, there is a complicated system of a cogged wheel which is the one making the indications. I can't say more because is very difficult for me to explain this in English, without looking the dictionary in every two words .

Here is a diagram of the device's gearing system:



It can be found at the National Archaeological museum of Athens.

Ellinas,

Why don't you enter your explanation in Greek here

and use the Greek-English translation function?

Should be good for a giggle, if nothing else.

lmur wrote:

Ellinas,

Why don't you enter your explanation in Greek here

and use the Greek-English translation function?

Should be good for a giggle, if nothing else.

This was the result :

The Computer of Antjkyci'rwn is a placed in a wooden box with graded plates in his abroad. Internally it was constituted by 30 alliloempleko'menoys toothed wheels, cams placed. The wheels, that were organised epjkykloejdw's, it placed in movement, with different speed each one, a turned hejrokj'nitos axis. Indicators according to the signs showed the course of Helium the course and the phases of Moon and planets in the zwdjako' circle. A system of differential toothed wheel, which accepted two different rotations, proportionally "removed" result. That is to say it executed mathematic action with mechanic way in order to it removes the result. Above in the graded plates as much as above in the frame existed what signs the or constituted the directives of use and the clues. In the big disk that is found in the forward part are marked the months of year while elsewhere are marked the movement of Helium in in the zwdjako' circle as the annual movement of brilliant asters and constellations.

ΑΡΚΤΟΥΡΟΣΔΥΝΕΙΕΩΙΟΣ (Arcturius goes down in the evening)

Not intended to be nitpicking, but shoudln't it be Arcturus (ΑΡΚΤΟΥΡΟΣ - (Alpha Bootis) )?

Ancient Moon 'computer' revisited
By Jonathan Fildes
Science and technology reporter, BBC News

Wednesday, 29 November 2006

The delicate workings at the heart of a 2,000-year-old analogue computer have been revealed by scientists.

The Antikythera Mechanism, discovered more than 100 years ago in a Roman shipwreck, was used by ancient Greeks to display astronomical cycles.

Using advanced imaging techniques, an Anglo-Greek team probed the remaining fragments of the complex geared device.

The results, published in the journal Nature, show it could have been used to predict solar and lunar eclipses.

The elaborate arrangement of bronze gears may also have displayed planetary information.

"This is as important for technology as the Acropolis is for architecture," said Professor John Seiradakis of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki in Greece, and one of the team. "It is a unique device."

However, not all experts agree with the team's interpretation of the mechanism.

Technical complexity

The remains of the device were first discovered in 1902 when archaeologist Valerios Stais noticed a heavily corroded gear wheel amongst artefacts recovered by sponge divers from a sunken Roman cargo ship.


A further 81 fragments have since been found containing a total of 30 hand-cut bronze gears. The largest fragment has 27 cogs.

Researchers believe these would have been housed in a rectangular wooden frame with two doors, covered in instructions for its use. The complete calculator would have been driven by a hand crank.

Although its origins are uncertain, the new studies of the inscriptions suggest it would have been constructed around 100-150 BC, long before such devices appear in other parts of the world.

Writing in Nature, the team says that the mechanism was "technically more complex than any known device for at least a millennium afterwards".

Although much of it is now lost, particularly from the front, what remains has given a century's worth of researchers a tantalising glimpse into the world of ancient Greek astronomy.

One of the most comprehensive studies was done by British science historian Derek Solla Price, who advanced the theory that the device was used to calculate and display celestial information.