This is the world’s oldest computer. The Antikythera Mechanism.
It’s been lost for over 2000 years, its precision crafted gears and dials collecting barnacles on the ocean floor until its rediscovery in 1901.
The Antikythera Mechanism is an astonishing device that has forced modern day scientists to rethink the technological capabilities of ancient Greece.
It’s remarkable rediscovery has given us new insights into the scientific achievements, technological aspirations, and forgotten knowledge of the ancient world.
And maybe even Aliens!
But what led to the ancient Greeks to create such a sophisticated device? How did it disappear from history for so long? What does it have to do with Aliens, the supernatural, and paranormal?
And most importantly, what the heck is it and how does it work?
II. The Antikythera Mechanism: What is it and how does it work?
Ancient Greece’s Concept of the Universe
Imagine being at the center of the universe – literally.
For ancient Greeks, Earth was not just home; it was the fixed point around which everything else revolved. The Sun, Moon, planets, and stars were all thought to be satellites to our terrestrial home. This geocentric view of the cosmos was so deeply believed that even the great Aristotle reinforced it with his concept of the four elements: earth, wind, fire, and water.
The design of this supernatural and otherworldly device made it capable of tracking celestial movements with uncanny precision, even though its core was deeply rooted in the belief that Earth and not the Sun was the center of the universe.
Like magic, when the dials were turned the mechanism unlocked the secrets of the cosmos, providing an understanding of the intricate ballet of the planets, moons, and stars that danced around our stationary planet.
And then, something strange happened.
As the Antikythera Mechanism began to accurately predict astronomical events, clues of an even more complex universe began to spread. The mechanism began revealing and unveiling new secrets that challenged and added to the very foundations of ancient knowledge.
The device gave hints at a whole new perspective of the world and its place in the universe. And for the ancient Greeks, this was Earth shattering.
But how was all this possible? How could the ancient Greeks have pulled this off without the benefit of our modern knowledge of engineering, physics, and understanding of the universe?
Well, the answer lies within the intricate workings of the Antikythera Mechanism itself, a puzzle that has waited over 2000 years to be solved. And the truth … it’s far more astonishing that anyone imagined.
The Machine
The Antikythera Mechanism is an astral computer. It’s the first computer the world has ever known, at least that we’re aware of so far.
It’s a complex device that tracks celestial movements and predicts astronomical events with remarkable accuracy.
It’s built using an intricate network of interlocking gears, dials, and inscriptions. The gears measure time intervals, a lunar dial tracks the phases of the Moon, and a solar dial calculates the Sun’s position in relation to the Zodiac.
The inscriptions on its surface include astronomical tables and mathematical formulas. For us, they give insight into its operation. For the ancient Greeks, they suggest a high level of sophistication and an impressive understanding of mathematics and astronomy.
And as smart and technologically advanced as we are today, we still don’t fully understand how this mechanism really worked. And in large part, this is because we don’t really have enough information to put it all back together yet.
How The Machine Worked
The Antikythera Mechanism is an analog computer designed to simulate complex astronomical phenomena. It could predict celestial events with uncanny accuracy.
In fact, if we compare the Antikythera Mechanism to a modern-day calculator, we find that both devices share a common thread – they perform calculations based on input data and use mechanical or electronic components to arrive at answers.
But where modern electronic calculators are programmed for arithmetic operations, the Antikythera Mechanism was designed to mechanically tackle the complex mathematical problems used to predict celestial events.
The operator would turn a crank to set the mechanism’s calendar dial according to the current date – and then watches as the gears spun and turned to show the positions of celestial bodies. The Sun, Moon, and planets spun, turned, and aligned themselves in perfect harmony.
But what is really amazing is that the device could be set to future dates, allowing the operator to predict eclipses, lunar phases, and planetary alignments many years in advance. All of which could be used to further predict weather and other events. And considering that it’s a mechanical device made of gears and cogs, it was remarkable accurate.
I mean seriously think about the engineering and complexities of algebra that would have to go into determining the size of the gears, the number of teeth, the inter-connectedness of each gear to all the others, how many rotations and relationships of rotations … It’s mind boggling. All calculated and designed to make these predictions with the precision of a Rolex.
Not only does this make me want to learn more about ancient Greek civilizations, but it also begs the question of why they would create such a device in the first place? What use would they have for something this insanely complicated?
III. The Importance and Value of the Antikythera Mechanism to the Ancient Greeks and the Known World
Significance to Greece
To the ancient greeks, the Antikythera Mechanism was much more than just a clever gadget – it was the key to unlocking the secrets of the universe, and in doing so, it revolutionized their world.
Kind of like how self-driving cars promise to revolutionize our world … if they actually worked.
Not only did the sophisticated design demonstrate and showcase the Greek’s mastery of mechanics, engineering, and mathematical principles, but the technology had significant implications and practical uses for almost all aspects of life, from navigation and weather forecasting to strategic planning, setting the Olympic Games, and even spirituality.
The mechanism could have been used to determine the most favorable routes for sea travel by taking into account celestial bodies and their positions – a feat that would have enabled sailors to navigate more accurately and avoid hazardous weather conditions – especially important considering that a journey across the Mediterranean could have taken weeks to months.
It’s like having an ancient GPS system without the satellites!
But wait! That’s not all you get when you order an Antikythera Mechanism today!
The device’s ability to predict lunar phases and planetary alignments also allowed ancient astronomers to forecast weather patterns, providing valuable insights for agriculture, fishing, and other outdoor endeavors.
And the mechanism’s predictive capabilities gave military strategists a significant strategic advantage in battle planning and execution. By anticipating planetary alignments and lunar phases, commanders were able to plan battles with greater precision, taking into account the astrological and environmental influences on warfare.
But what really drives home the significance of this ancient technology is its profound impact on spirituality and philosophy.
The mechanism’s predictive capabilities would have provided ancient Greeks with a deeper understanding of the mysteries of the universe, fostering philosophical debates and spiritual practices that sought to reconcile human existence with celestial rhythms.
Now, all of this is conjecture. We don’t even know if the machine was ever actually used before it vanished into the sea.
When it comes to technology like this, I often find myself asking silly questions like how much would something like this cost?
How would it compare to the cost and value of modern technologies?
An Expensive Ancient Supercomputer
Just like Alan Turing’s computer, which revolutionized modern computing, this ancient device would have been groundbreaking for its time. While Turing’s machine relied on electricity, digital principles and binary code, the Antikythera Mechanism only used good old fashioned hand power, and mechanical gears and cogs in synchronicity to perform its calculations.
According to researchers like Walter Scheidel and Maria Eugenia Aubet, the costs of building the Antikythera Mechanism are estimated to have been as much as 6,400 drachmas – that’s a small fortune considering the average cost of a Trireme War Ship during that era was around 6,000 drachmas!
To put it into a modern perspective and adjusted for inflation, the Antikythera Mechanism would cost around $270 million dollars today.
Who had that kind of money back in ancient times?
Considering this kind of investment was only accessible to Royalty or the most elite of society, the importance and value of the device must have been staggering, implying that the device was the ultimate status symbol.
Kind of like buying a Mac.
An Invention With An Alien Connection
Even though we don’t really know if the device was ever put to use, we do have a few ideas of how the ancient Greeks could have invented such a remarkable machine.
The first theory is that its creation was the result of gradual innovation. A long process of experimentation by Greek engineers and mathematicians that may have extended over decades and multiple generations. Each generation adding incremental improvements and building on the previous generation.
The Greeks traded heavily with the Babylonians and Egyptians. The Babylonians and Egyptians had already developed a highly sophisticated knowledge of astronomy and mathematics, which could have been shared with the Greeks.
And of course, the Greeks were renowned for their skills and engineering ingenuity. It’s possible that a master craftsman or engineer like Archimedes may have contributed their knowledge to help design and build the mechanism.
The second theory has to do with water clock technology. The ancient Greeks had already developed water clock technologies and knew how to measure time with mechanical devices. The gearing system of the mechanism could have easily been inspired by the mechanisms of water clocks.
As for making gears and cogs, the Greeks had techniques for cutting and shaping gears, such as files, chisels, and lathes. They would have been able to test and refine their designs to make sure the mechanism functioned and worked as intended.
The third theory drifts a bit more into the fringe, the paranormal and supernatural. Aliens!
The Greeks deeply believed in extraterrestrial Gods, superhuman alien-like beings with supernatural abilities. It’s been suggested by some ancient astronaut theorists that these beings may have been Aliens from other places in the cosmos.
The aliens, being benevolent, decided to leave the Greeks with a wondrous gift – a device that encapsulated their vast knowledge of astronomy, engineering, and technology. The Antikythera Mechanism to help the Greeks better understand the remarkable workings of the universe.
And why is it called the Antikythera Mechanism?
V. The Shipwreck and the Re-Discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism
I do find it ironic that a device meant for predicting celestial patterns and weather events was discovered in an ancient shipwreck … a wreck that was most likely caused by the very celestial patterns and weather events that the device was designed to predict.
I’m guessing that the user manual for the thing was a 500 page long scroll with diagrams and warnings about using it during leap years. And nobody bothered to RTFM.
The shipwreck was found in 1901, 80 feet (25 meters) off the north east tip of Antikythera Island. And that’s how it came to be known as the Antikythera Mechanism.
The wreck is of a merchant ship, 180 feet long (55 meters) and built between 100 and 50 BCE. The ship had a large and impressive mast and sail, and two oars at the stern for stability.
It was discovered by Elias Stadiatos, a sponge diver, and later excavated by Velerios Stella, a Greek archaeologist who uncovered the device along with bronze statues, ceramics, and other treasures. It’s preservation within the mud was fortunate, considering how acidic and salty the Mediterranean Sea is.
To this day there have been no other examples of the Antikythera Mechanism found, or any evidence that more than one such device has ever existed.
I’m guessing that this is because of the highly complex and sophisticated nature of the device, and the resources and expertise to produce it. Not to mention the extraordinary cost of production and the fact that only a limited number of people knew how to make it, let alone knew of its existence.
It’s rarity further supports the idea that it may have been created over many decades and many generations.
With such a rare and expensive piece of technology, how could it have been lost at sea? It’s like an air force jet losing an atomic bomb. It just doesn’t seem possible.
So what caused the shipwreck and why at the tip of Antikythera Island?
VI. The Transportation of the Antikythera Mechanism from Syracuse or Athens to Cyrene
The question has bothered scholars, scientists, and people like me for a long time.
Now, I’m no scholar, but I have read the first paragraph of a really long Wikipedia article on the subject, so I’m basically what you’d call an “expert”.
I believe the mechanism was being transported from either Syracuse or Rhodes to the African city of Cyrene, in what is now Libya as a gift.
Syracuse, located in Sicily, was an important hub for trade and commerce in ancient Greece. It was also the home of Archimedes, one of the likely builders of the device.
Rhodes, on the other hand, is an island city located in the eastern Mediterranean. It too was a strategic hub for trade and commerce. And it just happened to be the home of Hipparchus, another candidate who may have created the mechanism.
The city of Cyrene was incredibly important to the ancient Greeks. Its strategic location allowed for the control and flow of goods between ancient Greece and North Africa, making it a crucial hub for trade and commerce. It was also the home city of both Eratosthenes and Theodorus, both highly accomplished mathematicians whose work continues to influence mathematics today.
Such a gift would have reinforced the city’s importance as a hub for the exchange of goods, ideas, and technology.
The most logical and safest route to Cyrene from either Syracuse or Rhodes would have meant passing by the island of Antikythera. It’s a route that would have provided safety and refuge from storms, pirates, and enemy ships from whom there otherwise would be no escape.
It’s likely that while passing the northern tip of the island during the winter months of the year, the captain and his crew encountered a sudden and violent storm. Being only a few miles and less than an hour from the shelter of Antikythera Port, the captain would have ordered his crew to heave-to, pulling the mainsail tight to backfill it with wind to quickly power the ship to safety.
The slightest error or miscalculation in timing would have turned the sail the wrong way, with the wind filling the sail, the ship racing out of control and smashing into the jagged rocks eighty feet (25 meters) from shore.
Either that or those pesky aliens again.
IV. The Loss of the Antikythera Mechanism and its Technology
What other secrets lay buried deep in the sands of time – nuked by angry aliens?
How many more relics have been lost forever, their existence and secrets of a world long forgotten?
The passage of time is a merciless thief, stealing our collective knowledge and leaving us with only hints at what once was. Cities crumble, civilizations rise and fall, and with them, entire cultures and their technologies are erased from memory forever.
How else do you explain Atlantis?
The Antikythera Mechanism is a rusty example of the unfortunate natural process of lost human innovations and knowledge over time. It represents a pinnacle of the technological achievements of ancient Greece. And it’s a shame the Antikythera Mechanism was lost for centuries.
The loss of ancient technologies and knowledge also highlights the importance of preserving and sharing knowledge across generations. Knowledge is fragile and ephemeral, it requires careful preservation and transmission in order to ensure its survival.
Here’s an example … how many of us know how to start a fire and make a shelter in the woods without asking Google? I don’t. The only relationship I have to Bear Grylls is that I’d “bear” ly survive!
Yet starting a fire and making a shelter was a fundamental skill essential to survival for tens of thousands of years.
Or how many of us can an old fashioned paper map? Spoiler alert … the top of the map is always North.
Let me know down in the comments below. Can you read a map? Can you start a fire with sticks? And what ancient technologies do you think lay at the bottom of the sea waiting to be rediscovered? And while you’re down there, please be sure to subscribe to the channel, and like and share this video. I only have like 8 subscribers and two of them are Tibor.
VII. The Remaining Mysteries and Unknowns of the Antikythera Mechanism’s
As we dive deeper into the muddy depths of Antikythera island, one thing has becomes crystal clear: there’s still so much more to uncover.
As researchers continue to study and analyze the Antikythera Mechanism, new discoveries are constantly being made. While the intricate system of gears and dials that tracks celestial bodies is a testament to ancient Greek ingenuity, what lies behind the calculations still remains an elusive secret.
And if you like stories about disappearing technologies, watch the story of Dmitry Petronov, a brilliant Russian inventor who created a revolutionary Plasma Battery.
Petronov dared challenged the oil and gas industries only to vanish off the face of the Earth. Both he and his invention haven’t been seen since 2010. His disappearance has sparked a flurry of conspiracy theories and speculation.
Watch the incredible story of the Suspicious Disappearance of Dmitry Petronov and the Plasma Battery now, and just maybe you’ll be the one who unlocks the secrets of free energy for everyone.
