Theodore G. Koukoulis, a renowned archaeologist with degrees in B.A. and M.Litt, delves into the meticulous craftsmanship of the mechanism’s gears and its function in predicting astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes. He explains how the Antikythera Mechanism sheds light on the advanced technological capabilities of the ancient Greeks, challenging our perceptions of historical engineering and scientific prowess.
In the former bank building in the town square of Potamos, Kythera, you can explore a permanent and captivating exhibition dedicated to the world-famous Antikythera Mechanism. This exhibition is open from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and entry is free. Additionally, on some Sunday mornings, Theodore presents discussions on the origins and history of the mechanism, highlighting why it is considered an ancient marvel.
The Antikythera Mechanism, often referred to as the world’s first analog computer, was discovered in 1901 in a shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island Antikythera. This complex device dates back to around 150-100 BCE and has intrigued scholars and scientists for over a century.
Join Theodore in this enlightening presentation as he unravels the mysteries behind this ancient technological wonder, exploring its significance and legacy in the history of science and technology.
The Antikythera Mechanism is a breathtaking, unparalleled artifact from the 2nd century BCE. It is the oldest surviving mechanical device featuring gear wheels, essentially functioning as an analogue computer. This remarkable invention was designed to predict the positions of the Sun and the Moon and the five planets known in antiquity—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—within the zodiac. It also displayed the Moon’s phases and forecasted solar and lunar eclipses. It scheduled the succession of Panhellenic games (such as the Olympics, Nemean, Isthmian, and Pythian) and two local games, the Naa of Dodona and the Halieia of Rhodes, over a four-year Olympiad cycle.
Small yet intricate, the mechanism comprised at least 39 gears and 20 shafts and axles, exhibiting the exceptional skill of Greek engineers during the Hellenistic period. Comparable complex devices, such as mechanical astronomical clocks, did not emerge in Europe until the 13th century.
The Discovery of the Shipwreck
Just before Easter in 1900, a group of sponge divers from the island of Symi accidentally discovered a significant ancient shipwreck off the northeast coastline of Antikythera, near Point “Vlychadia”. Diver Elias Lycopantis, descending approximately 50 meters into the sea, came upon the remains of this sunken ancient ship. Over an area hidden for around 2,000 years lay marble and bronze statues, pottery, wooden planks and nails, coins, jewellery, and other artifacts.
Captain Dimitris Kontos retrieved an arm of a bronze statue and presented the find to archaeologist Antonis Oikonomou from Symi upon returning to Athens with the sponge divers. This fortuitous discovery initiated the world’s first state-conducted underwater archaeological research, supervised by the Georgios Theotokis government. Spyridon Stais, the then Minister of Religious Affairs and Public Education, was crucial in organizing the research.
The Finds from Antikythera
A significant portion of the ship’s recovered cargo included stunning statues of gods and heroes, intricately decorated glassware, and coins that helped date the shipwreck and trace the ship’s route before it sank. The ship also transported amphorae and other vessels for the crew and passengers’ daily use. The discovery and subsequent research received extensive coverage in Greek and international press, propelling public interest in the Antikythera shipwreck and its remarkable mechanism. Over five years, a total of 861 news articles referred to the shipwreck, its findings, and the process of recovering the antiquities. This interest has remained undiminished, occasionally reignited by new discoveries and speculations.
Prolonged Study of the Mechanism
Since its discovery, the Antikythera Mechanism has intrigued numerous scholars. Initial studies from 1902-1934 involved archaeologists, epigraphists, historians, and officers from the Hellenic Royal Navy. These early researchers proposed the first theories about the device’s form and functions.
From 1950-1970, British historian of science Derek J. de Solla Price and Greek Atomic Energy Commission radiologist Charalampos Karakalos obtained the first x-ray scans of the Mechanism, identifying 30 gears without determining their exact positions. In the 1990s, Alan Bromley and Michael Wright applied new x-ray techniques. In 2005, the international Antikythera Mechanism Research Project (AMRP) employed novel techniques to reveal the internal structure and surviving inscriptions. By 2008, an interdisciplinary team led by Giannis Seiradakis, an AMRP member, constructed operational replicas, uncovering new operational aspects of the Mechanism.
Understanding the Mechanism’s Operation
The Antikythera Mechanism contained at least 39 gears and 20 shafts and axles mounted on three parallel bronze plates. The outer plates featured engraved astronomical and calendar indications, while extensive instructions were inscribed on the front and rear covers. The front plate had two concentric circular scales—one with zodiac signs and another with 365 days, allowing for a leap year adjustment every four years. Three-pointers indicated the positions of the Sun and Moon, as well as the Moon’s phase, with potential additions for the five known planets.
The rear plate included two large spiral and three smaller circular scales. The upper spiral dial represented the 235 synodic months of the 19-year Metonic cycle, the civil-lunisolar calendar of the Mechanism’s era. The lower spiral dial indicated the Saros cycle, predicting solar and lunar eclipses. The user manipulated the pointers via a hand crank to select a date or an astronomical phenomenon.
Modern Investigative Techniques
Given its uniqueness and fragility, deciphering the mechanism requires modern technology. Advances in digital imaging methods have significantly improved the representation of the fragments’ exterior and interior. Technologies like Reflection Transformation Imaging have revealed otherwise indiscernible texts and features, while X-ray CT scanning has uncovered new evidence, advancing research and opening new study avenues.
Conclusion
Today, more than a century after its discovery, the Antikythera Mechanism is not only exhibited at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens but also featured in numerous essays, books, documentaries, and artworks. It is one of the world’s most recognizable artifacts, adorned in Greek passports and symbolizing innovation and research. The ongoing underwater excavation draws public and expert interest, promising to unravel further mysteries about the Mechanism’s creator, operational framework, purpose, and origin.
Contributors to the Research and Permanent Exhibition at Potamos Kythera, Greece:
• Project Manager: Ilias Papadopoulos
• Project Owner/Employer: Kythera Municipality
• Funding Entity: Attica Islands Network
• Museological and Museographic Study: Spyros Tsafaras, Marianna Efstathiou, Tryfon Gesios-Kraniotis
• Authors: Dr. Marianna Efstathiou, TETRAGON AE, Center for Multidisciplinary Research and Promotion of the Antikythera Mechanism “Ioannis Seiradakis” of AUTH
• Scientific Editors: Kyriakos Efstathiou, Yanis Bitsakis
• Literary Editor: Efstratios Charchalakis, Mayor of Kythera and Antikythera
• Other Contributors: Charalambos Sougiannis, Marinis Beretsos, Christina Kalatha, Sotiris Bolis, Panagiotis Mouzakiotis, Dimitris Bogiatzis, Vasilis Mavropoulos, Danai Mavridou, Tryfon Gesios-Kraniotis
• Translation: Christina Malakou
• Visual Content: National Archaeological Museum Athens, K. Xenikakis, Hellenic Ministry of Culture and Sports, Hellenic Organization of Cultural Resources Development, Center for Multidisciplinary Research and Promotion of the Antikythera Mechanism “Ioannis Seiradakis,” M. Efstathiou’s photographic archive
