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This episode of Nova is well worth your time. Enjoy

One of the great misplaced artifacts. Have to wonder how far was civilization set back with the loss of the library of Alexandria.

quote:

Originally posted by Tuckerrnr1:
Have to wonder how far was civilization set back with the loss of the library of Alexandria.

One of the greatest tragedies of our species, honestly. Two thousand years before it burned, on the next big island in the chain next to Antikythera, the Minoans had indoor flushing toilets at Knossos. The Romans get the credit, but they borrowed the idea from the Greeks, who had them beat by a millenia and a half or so. It could be argued that we could have skipped the dark ages altogether, and likely much more than that.

As recently as a few years ago, the Greek Orthodox Church was trying to get Christian families to move to Antikythera to save the population of about 60 from totally dying out. One needed to speak the language and be willing to forego all modern amenities including indoor plumbing and electricity and be willing to farm or fish for a living. I have no idea if there were any takers.

That documentary appears to be from the late 90's or so. I recall running into some debate about it's functions and authenticity as recently as a few years ago. It is apparently the centerpiece for the upcoming Indiana Jones movie.

I have been fascinated by the Antikythera Mechanism for a long time. It is possible now to buy a working model of it: https://www.antikytheramechanism.co.uk/buy

flashguy

I tell my peers at work about ancient technology and either they don't believe me or their minds are blown.

The history doesn't fit the narrative taught in our schools.

I've been fascinated by this thing for decades. This is a really good program on it.

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
I have been fascinated by the Antikythera Mechanism for a long time. It is possible now to buy a working model of it: https://www.antikytheramechanism.co.uk/buy

flashguy

I got excited when I saw this reply, then I looked at price and what you get and was disappointed.

If I was ever stupid rich, I'd love to have an exact replica commissioned for me. Or maybe one day I'll just 3D print one.

If Archimedes was in Syracuse, what was his machine doing in Turkey, heading towards Syracuse?

Fascinating to think about.

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
This episode of Nova is well worth your time.

Absolutely!
Thank you.

quote:

Originally posted by P220 Smudge:
That documentary appears to be from the late 90's or so.

2013 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562616/

quote:

I recall running into some debate about it's functions and authenticity as recently as a few years ago.

I'd say there's little doubt of its authenticity.

Have they performed spectral analysis on the metals? There is advanced technology that uses UV spectroscopy to determine the chemical makeup of materials. The mixture in an alloy is often able to determine both age and origin of the stuff. This appears to be very recent technology, used a lot in the series "The Curse of Oak Island".

flashguy

The more I learn of the history of mankind, the more humbled I am. We tend to think we are the most advanced mankind has ever been. Given what has been lost to tragedy, entropy and conquest, only arrogance and ignorance could drive one to think he is superior by virtue of chronology alone. On the other hand, this mechanism could just be an ancient gameboy.......

Chris from ClickSpring has a whole series of him making a new one…and how it works

Very very cool stuff

https://youtu.be/ML4tw_UzqZE

Fascinating!!

There is a Facebook group by the folks that are still researching the shipwreck. It is fascinating.

quote:

Originally posted by Skins2881:

quote:

Originally posted by flashguy:
I have been fascinated by the Antikythera Mechanism for a long time. It is possible now to buy a working model of it: https://www.antikytheramechanism.co.uk/buy

flashguy

I got excited when I saw this reply, then I looked at price and what you get and was disappointed.

If I was ever stupid rich, I'd love to have an exact replica commissioned for me. Or maybe one day I'll just 3D print one.

For those prices I would have expected brass gears instead of plastic!

Took me an extra day to watch whole thing, fascinating!

There actually is a open source model for 3d printing one on Thingiverse.
Only 81 parts...
https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:1821540

Fascinating. My son and I watched it this am, and my kid (who wanders off 10 minutes into a program) sat riveted through the whole thing.

That was definitely worth the time.

Would it be far fetched to say that Archimedes invented the watch, by way of progressive improvements to his design?