Antikythera Mechanism

ancient greece · astronomy · invention · analogue computer

Gears Predict the Sky. This ancient Greek machine had dozens of bronze gears that worked together like a calculator. By turning a handle, people could predict where the moon, sun, and planets would be years into the future.

Lost and Found. The Antikythera mechanism sank to the bottom of the sea near Greece around 2,000 years ago. Divers didn't discover it until 1901, when they found it covered in barnacles and corroded by salt water.

Eclipse Predictor. This incredible machine could forecast solar and lunar eclipses decades ahead of time. Ancient astronomers could use it to know exactly when the moon would pass in front of the sun.

Olympic Game Tracker. The mechanism could also keep track of the four-year cycle of ancient athletic games like the Olympics. It helped organize when these famous competitions would happen.

The First Computer. Scientists call the Antikythera mechanism the world's oldest analogue computer because it solved problems using moving gears instead of buttons or screens. Nothing this sophisticated appeared again for over 1,000 years.