When most people envision the roots of astronomy, they might picture early stargazers marking the solstices with stone circles or ancient scientists drawing celestial diagrams. Yet, few artifacts are as remarkable—and as enigmatic—as the Antikythera Mechanism. Discovered in 1901 amid the wreckage of a Roman-era shipwreck off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera, this device is often dubbed the world’s first known analog computer.

The Antikythera Mechanism dates back to around 100 BCE, and its intricate system of gears astonished both historians and engineers upon its discovery. At roughly the size of a shoebox, the device consists of more than 30 bronze gears densely packed into a wooden frame. For centuries, its true purpose remained unclear. However, advances in X-ray imaging and decades of meticulous study have revealed that the mechanism was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses for calendrical and astrological purposes.

By turning a hand-crank, the user could simulate the motions of the Sun, the Moon, and perhaps the planets, providing dates for the Olympic Games and tracking the cycles of eclipses. The scales are inscribed with Greek text, including months of the year and names of games in the panhellenic cycle. Most impressively, the mechanism accounted for the irregular orbit of the Moon—a feat not fully replicated by Western clockmakers until centuries later.

The Antikythera Mechanism stands as a testament to the advanced engineering and astronomical knowledge of Hellenistic Greece. Its discovery rewrote historians’ understanding of ancient technology, demonstrating that sophisticated mechanical traditions existed long before the clockwork marvels of Renaissance Europe. Today, the Antikythera Mechanism is housed at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, where it continues to inspire modern research and a sense of wonder at our astronomical heritage.

— Darlene