麻豆传媒视频网站 Engineering experts recreate a mechanical Cosmos for the world鈥檚 first computer

15 March 2021

麻豆传媒视频网站 Mechanical Engineering, 麻豆传媒视频网站 Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering and 麻豆传媒视频网站 Qatar researchers have solved a major piece of the puzzle that makes up the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek hand-powered mechanical device used to predict astronomical events.

Exploded model of the Cosmos gearing of the Antikythera Mechanism. 漏2020 Tony Freeth.

Known to many as the world鈥檚 first analogue computer, the Antikythera Mechanism is the most complex piece of engineering to have survived from the ancient world. The 2,000-year-old device was used to predict the positions of the Sun, Moon and the planets as well as lunar and solar eclipses.

Published in听Scientific Reports,听the paper from the multidisciplinary 麻豆传媒视频网站 Antikythera Research Team reveals a new display of the ancient Greek order of the Universe (Cosmos), within a complex gearing system at the front of the Mechanism.

Lead author Professor Tony Freeth (麻豆传媒视频网站 Mechanical Engineering) explains:

Ours is the first model that conforms to all the physical evidence and matches the descriptions in the scientific inscriptions engraved on the Mechanism itself. The Sun, Moon and planets are displayed in an impressive tour de force of ancient Greek brilliance.鈥�

Read more in the 麻豆传媒视频网站 News article

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Caption:听Exploded model of the Cosmos gearing of the Antikythera Mechanism.
Credit: 漏2020 Tony Freeth.

With thanks to Kate Corry.

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