NEW research into a mysterious 2,000-year-old relic may have finally revealed its true purpose – and it’s very different to how it’s portrayed in Indiana Jones.
Dubbed the “world’s first computer”, the Antikythera Mechanism has baffled boffins for years – even inspired the latest Harrison Ford hit “The Dial of Destiny”.
A reconstructed version of the Antikythera Mechanism, as it was shown in the 2023 film ‘Indiana Jones and The dial of Destiny’[/caption]
The real Antikythera Mechanism, which is estimated to date back to around 80 BC in Ancient Greece[/caption]
A reconstruction of the Antikythera Mechanism on display at the exhibition of Ancient Greek Technology in Athens shows how sophisticated the device was[/caption]
A poster for ‘Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny’ (2023), starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones[/caption]
For over a century, the mysterious Antikythera Mechanism has left scientists scratching their heads.
Believed by some to be an ancient Greek “computer”, it was thought to track the cycles of the Moon, Sun and planets – and even predict eclipses.
But now, new research has brought the enigma back into the spotlight.
Argentinian scientists have used computer simulations to re-create the device’s inner workings.
A CT scan revealed triangle-shaped gear teeth and surprisingly sloppy spacing between the gear and teeth.
Based on its current measurements, the device can only be cranked to about four months into the future before it jams or its gears simply disengage.
This is odd as it has indicators marking the date over an entire year.
This discovery has led researchers to question whether the device was really the ancient genius system it’s long been hailed as – or, disappointingly, just a clunky, janky toy.
If it’s a toy, it raises questions about who might have used it, whether it was specifically made for a wealthy patron or was a mass-produced item.
But what researchers consider more likely is that the components and their spacing have been distorted due to the fact the object’s gears are corroded and parts of it are missing after it lay buried in the sea.
Argentinian scientists say the gadget may indeed have once run smoothly – accurate enough to avoid jamming and predict years on end.
What is the Antikythera Mechanism?
The Antikythera Mechanism is a 2,000-year-old Greek device, often called the world’s first analogue computer.
Discovered in a shipwreck in 1901, the object is thought to have been used to predict astronomical events, like eclipses, moon phases and possibly the movements of planets.
It consists of at least 29 gears of various sizes that were made to move simultaneously via a handle.
Key parts:
- Front dial: shows the Sun and Moon moving through the zodiac and tracks dates using a 365-day calendar
- Back upper dial: tracks the 19-year Metonic cycle to sync solar and lunar calendars
- Back lower dial: predicts eclipses using the 223-month Saros cycle
- Lunar mechanism: models the Moon’s phases and orbit
- Gears: the interlocking, bronze gears power everything
The Antikythera mechanism, thought to be the “world’s oldest computer”, in the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, Greece[/caption]
Fragments of the Antikythera Mechanism[/caption]
‘Indiana Jones and The dial of Destiny’, starring Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones[/caption]
It comes as archaeologists have found a secret tomb underneath the landmark Petra – a World Wonder and Indiana Jones film setting.
Twelve bodies have been found in the tomb, with one of them holding a chalice that resembles the Holy Grail.
Diggers excavated the 2,000-year-old grave after finding it through a sonic underground search.
In Petra’s tomb they also found bits of bronze, iron, and other bits of ceramic items.
Hundreds more items are expected to be recovered as excavation continues, according to lead archaeologist Dr. Pearce Paul Creasman.
Creasman said his team dated the grave to the first century BC using luminescence dating, which tracks the last exposure of minerals to sunlight.
Meanwhile, archaeological boffins have unveiled a plan to finally prove the existence of Noah’s Ark.
The team at Noah’s Ark Scans are determined to solve one of religion‘s greatest mysteries by uncovering where the 510ft vessel is located today.
Researchers believe the great ark is located in Turkey – just 30 kilometres south of the summit of Mount Ararat.
Experts are yet to officially confirm the ark’s existence but many have speculated around the spot due to the legendary Durupinar formation.