Difference between revisions of "Antikythera mechanism"
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==History== | ==History== | ||
| − | Diving for [[sponge]]s and black [[coral]] at a depth of 140 ft, Elias Stadiatos reported disturbing visions of "dead, naked women."<ref name="Rice" /> Subsequent dives discovered a treasure trove of ancient [[marble]] statues. The Greek [[government]] was informed of the find and many artifacts were recovered from the wreck the following year. The haul included the [[statue]]s, jewelry, and what appeared to be several pieces of corroded [[bronze]]. Under the belief that these pieces were fragments of a larger statue, they were filed away in the depths of the National Archaeological Museum in [[Athens]], while the rest of the artifacts were placed on display. | + | Diving for [[sponge]]s and black [[coral]] at a depth of 140 ft, Elias Stadiatos reported disturbing visions of "dead, naked women."<ref name="Rice" /> Subsequent dives discovered a treasure trove of ancient [[marble]] statues. The Greek [[government]] was informed of the find and many artifacts were recovered from the wreck the following year. The haul included the [[statue]]s, jewelry, and what appeared to be several pieces of corroded [[bronze]]. Under the belief that these pieces were fragments of a larger statue, they were filed away in the depths of the National Archaeological Museum in [[Athens]], while the rest of the artifacts were placed on display. |
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| + | The shipwreck and cargo are dated to about 65 B.C. It sank off Antitythera while on a voyage from Rhodes. Cicero mentions a workshop in Rhodes headed by Poseidonius which produced mechanisms of this type.<ref>"[https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259274448_The_Antikythera_Mechanism_IIQ_is_it_Posidonius'_Orrery The Antikythera Mechanism IIQ is it Posidonius' Orrery?]"</ref> It has been speculated that the ship may have been bound for Rome.<ref>http://www.world-mysteries.com/sar_4.htm</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 15:39, April 11, 2021
The Antikythera mechanism was a device which displayed the movements of the heavens that was recovered from an ancient shipwreck. The wreck was found near the Greek island of Antikythera in 1901. Thought to be over 2,000 years old, gamma ray analysis has revealed an intricate astronomical device utilising "calibrated differential gears"[1] 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
Diving for sponges and black coral at a depth of 140 ft, Elias Stadiatos reported disturbing visions of "dead, naked women."[1] Subsequent dives discovered a treasure trove of ancient marble statues. The Greek government was informed of the find and many artifacts were recovered from the wreck the following year. The haul included the statues, jewelry, and what appeared to be several pieces of corroded bronze. Under the belief that these pieces were fragments of a larger statue, they were filed away in the depths of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, while the rest of the artifacts were placed on display.
The shipwreck and cargo are dated to about 65 B.C. It sank off Antitythera while on a voyage from Rhodes. Cicero mentions a workshop in Rhodes headed by Poseidonius which produced mechanisms of this type.[2] It has been speculated that the ship may have been bound for Rome.[3]