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[[File:Antikythera mechanism.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The Antikythera mechanism]]

[[File:Antikythera mechanism.jpg|right|250px|thumb|The Antikythera mechanism]]

The '''Antikythera mechanism''' is the remains of an object found in 1900 within an ancient shipwreck off the island of Antikythera, Greece. Estimated to be well over 2,000 years old, the Antikythera mechanism has recently been determined to be a highly-precise clock-like astronomical device, made to calculate the motions of the sun, moon, stars and planets over a period of time; that no other example of its kind was made until a thousand years later makes the device all the more remarkable.

The '''Antikythera mechanism''' was recovered from an ancient shipwreck off the [[Greece|Greek]] island of Antikythera in 1900. Thought to be over 2,000 years old, [[gamma ray]] analysis has revealed an intricate [[astronomy|astronomical]] device utilising "calibrated differential gears"<ref>http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rrice/usna_pap.html</ref> and capable of predicting the movements of the [[sun]] and [[moon]]. Remarkably, it pre-dates instruments of similar complexity by around a thousand years.

==History==

==History==

In 1900 a Greek sponge boat had anchored off the Antikythera coast and divers went over the side, diving 140 feet to the bottom in an effort to gather sponges and black coral; one of the divers (Elias Stadiatos) reported the frightening images of "dead, naked women"<ref>http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rrice/usna_pap.html</ref>, which turned out to be a treasure trove of ancient marble statues. Telling the Greek government of the find, the boat returned the following year, recovering the statues, jewelry, and what appeared to have been several pieces of corroded bronze gears, which were filed away in the depths of the Athens Museum, while the rest of the finds were placed on display.

Diving for [[sponge]]s and black [[coral]] at a depth of 140ft, Elias Stadiatos reported disturbing visions of "dead, naked women".<ref>http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rrice/usna_pap.html</ref> Subsequent dives discovered a treasure trove of ancient [[marble]] statues. The Greek [[government]] was informed of the find and many artefacts were recovered from the wreck the following year. The haul included [[statue]]s, jewelry, and what appeared to be several pieces of corroded [[bronze]] gears. These gears were filed away in the depths of the [[Athens]] Museum, whilst the rest of the artefacts were placed on display.

 

 

==References==

==References==