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The Antikythera MechanismThe ShipwreckThe ship sank near the island of Antikythera, near Crete around 82 B.C.Discovered by sponge diver, Elias Stadiatos, in 1900Found several bronze and marble statuesSalvaged the wreck over 1 yearArcaheologist, Valerios Staisd iscovered the mechanism in 1902Was originally mistaken for a rock

The MechanismCorroded bronze plates in a frame of decaying wood.3 main parts (now 7) with dozens of smaller pieces (now 75).17cm (6.75in) X 9cm (3.5in) X 33 cm (13in) Cleaned over decades.

Derek De Solla Price1951- Took over the investigation.1971- Price and Karakalos made radiographs of the mechanism, using gamma rays and x-rays.Able to view the interior (30 gears).Found highly complex mechanical technology.

Price Reconstruction1980s- Robert Deroski makes a model based on Prices designs.System of differential and epicyclic gears calculate lunar and synodic months over 4 year cycles. Front dial (w/ Zodia): progression of moon and sunRear dial (upper): 4 year periodRear dial (lower): solitary synodic monthAccompanying dial shows entire lunar year (12 synodic months)

bromley and percival reconstructionGap in the mechanism that held several missing gears.One gear train had 15 and 63 that Price altered to 16 and 64.Cycle is actually 4 years long, not 4.4 cycles is 18 years (cycle of eclipses).Each square equals a new moon.

The AMRPStarted in 2005 and is ongoing.Several groups involved, including Cardiff Universities.Tech support provided by X-Tek Systems, Hewlett Packard, and others.Used advanced x-rays, polynomial texture mapping, and computed tomography.Able to translate 95% of the inscriptions.

InscriptionsFront: days, months, zodiac signs, and a parapegma (star reference).Rear: 5 dials present- Metonic (19 year cycle), Olympiad (Olympic Games), Callippic (quadruples metonic), Saros (18 year cycle, eclipses), and Exeligmos (triples saros).Inscriptions on doors are instructions for use.

Wright reconstructionMechanism was also an orrery, used to calculate planetary positions and motions.5 known planets: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and SaturnAn extra gear used for moon phases should be present.Rear Dial (Upper): Displayed the metonic cycle (235 synodic months or 19 years).Rear Dial (Lower): Displayed the callippic cycle (4 cycles of 19 years, equalling 76 years).Pin and slot shows variation in moons angular velocity.

TheoriesAncient tradition of complex mechanical technology.Accepted heliocentrism, 1500 years before Copernicus and Galileo. Of Greek origin, but on a Roman ship. Spoil of war? Transported from city to city?Built on Rhodes, a hub for astronomy and mechanical engineering.Not one man, but by several.Wasnt the only mechanism.recently constructed by our friend Posidonius, which at each revolution reproduces the same motions of the sun, the moon, and the 5 planets (Cicero).

Richard StraussAlso Sprach Zarathustra20558.37