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EXPLORE FURTHER: Ancient Town from Egypt’s Past Unearthed After 3,400 Years
It inspired the “Dial of Destiny” in the concluding part.
Indiana
Jones movie.
Scientists now think they might have ultimately unraveled the enigma surrounding the Antikythera Mechanism.
Tracing back over 2,000 years, the
mysterious ancient Greek device is generally considered the oldest computer in history.
Certain scientists refer to it as the most intricate piece of engineering still extant from the ancient world.
Some argue it was an apparatus operated manually that functioned as a predictor for the locations of the sun, moon, and planets.
Given its high degree of complexity,
alien
aficionados have gone as far as proposing outlandish theories suggesting that this might be proof of aliens imparting wisdom to ancient human societies.
But a new study suggests an alternative theory for the Antikythera Mechanism.
Researchers from the National University of Mar del Plata in Argentina now theorize that it was more of a toy than a working computer.
In 1901, sponge divers exploring near the Greek island of Antikythera stumbled upon a mechanical apparatus amidst the remnants of an underwater wrecked vessel.
The enigmatic bronze artifact dates back to the latter part of the second or beginning of the first century BC, since which time scholars have engaged in extensive discussions about its function.
Sadly, the small shoebox-like apparatus shattered and decayed, leading to various speculations and outlandish ideas about its initial function.
Given that just one specimen like this has ever been discovered, some people propose it might have originated elsewhere – perhaps a present from another world.
However, the prevailing belief, supported by extensive research and examination over many years, is that this device known as the Antikythera Mechanism acted as a type of manually operated mechanical calculator.
Comprising as many as 40 bronze cogs and gears, this device enabled the ancient Greeks to forecast the movements of celestial bodies with remarkable precision.
A user would operate a small hand crank – which is now missing – driving an intricate mechanism with approximately 40 or more internal cogs and gears.
At the forefront, indicators displayed the positions of the sun and moon in the sky, along with a depiction of the lunar phase.
In this recent research, the scientists from the National University of Mar del Plata developed a computer simulation of the artifact.
Specifically, they examined the triangular interlocking ‘ teeth’ of the gears, which are believed to play a crucial role in the functioning of the mechanism.
They discovered that production errors would lead to the mechanism jamming frequently enough to render it essentially useless.
This kind of interference, resulting from the rotation of the crank handle, would have rendered the apparatus ineffective for scientific applications.
Given its design, the team notes that ‘ manufacturing inaccuracies greatly raise the chances of gears getting stuck or coming apart’.
At the same time, the triangular shape of the teeth leads to uneven movement, resulting in acceleration and deceleration as each tooth comes into contact.
The researchers suggest that if the device frequently got stuck, it might simply have been considered a sophisticated plaything designed for children.
Nevertheless, they highlight the significant amount of time and effort that must have been invested in crafting the device, as well as the remarkable workmanship involved.
The team suggests that it appears improbable for someone to construct such an intricate but non-operational apparatus.
It should be remembered that merely one-third of the Antikythera Mechanism remains intact; consequently, several key components of the instrument may have been lost forever.
Therefore. the device must have been more reliably made than their simulation shows (they stress their ‘results must be interpreted with caution’).
Either way, the team call for ‘more refined techniques to better understand the true accuracy and functionality of the Antikythera Mechanism’.
Earlier, British astrophysicist Mike Edmunds determined that the main function of the Antikythera Mechanism was likely more focused on serving as an educational demonstration rather than being used as a device for accurate and practical celestial forecasting.
The group concurs: “Based on our assumptions, the discrepancies highlighted by Edmunds surpass the acceptable thresholds needed to avoid malfunctions.”
The research has appeared on the preprint server.
arXiv
This indicates that it has not undergone peer review yet.
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