Additional Coverage:
A fragment of the ancient Antikythera Mechanism, a 2,200-year-old device considered the earliest known mechanical computer, is displayed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.
Researchers believe they have unraveled the mystery of the Antikythera mechanism, discovered in a shipwreck, asserting that it was designed to follow a Greek lunar calendar. They applied statistical modeling methods typically utilized for studying gravitational waves in space.
Graham Woan, an astronomer at the University of Glasgow, devoted his Christmas break last year to the enigma of this world’s oldest “computer.” Crafted from bronze and dating back to the second century BCE, the mechanism used interlocked gears along with rings and holes to predict future celestial events, such as eclipses.
The exact number of holes in the device has puzzled scientists and was critical for understanding how it worked. Chris Budiselic, a YouTuber with a deep interest in the mechanism, began constructing his own model seven years ago, relying on the very research that inspired the Glasgow team to employ statistical modeling to ascertain the correct quantity of holes.
Glasgow University’s team, based on their findings, concluded that the device tracked a lunar calendar rather than an Egyptian one, contradicting some earlier theories.
The Antikythera mechanism is among the significant finds from a 2,000-year-old shipwreck discovered by divers near the island of Antikythera in 1900. The find included not only the mechanism but also life-size marble horse statues, coins, and jewelry, as noted by the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute.
Despite its fragmented and corroded state complicating the analysis, advances such as X-ray examinations in 2005 have continued to lay bare the intricacies of the mechanism. Budiselic and his peers, in 2020, suggested through analysis that the device might have between 347 and 367 holes, essential for determining calendar systems.
Following this, Woan conducted a Bayesian analysis that indicated it was much more plausible for the device to have 354 holes. Joseph Bayyl, Woan’s colleague, later corroborated these findings using modified techniques intended for studying space-time ripples.
Their collective research indicated the device was designed to accurately track the Greek lunar year and calculate planetary movements with astonishing precision for its time—challenging tasks that demanded exact measurements and extreme skill in crafting.
This recent study, published in the Horological Journal, showcases the sophisticated craftsmanship and astronomical knowledge embedded in the Antikythera mechanism.