 Image from Nikon Metrology. |
The Antikythera Mechanism, which may look familiar to some, was created around 80 BC, and found in a shipwreck in Greece in 1900. |
 Image from Nikon Metrology. |
This photo shows an X-Ray image of the device. |
These images are from the Nikon Metrology website. It has been theorized that the device was used for predicting eclipses.
A video of a virtual reconstruction of the device by Wright and Vicentini is on YouTube.
According to a story by Lester Haines from the online tech news site The Register, a working version of the mechanism has been duplicated in Legos by an engineer from Apple computer named Andrew Carol. Here is the video of the working model.
Other interesting links:
Well, clockwork has been around for quite a while. Sagan knows what this did or if it worked, but dammit, they gave it a shot. We forget that technology was chugging right along until all the lights went out in the dark ages. Reminds me: Check out “Leviathan” by Scott Westerfeld. Good YA steampunk. Currently reading “Boneshaker.” Steampunk zombies, baby!
Love,
R
Comment by Mr. E. Hyde — December 13, 2010 @ 2:44 pm
According to the Nikon Metrology folks, they counted the teeth on the gears, and that’s what led them to believe it’s an eclipse clock. I’m just starting to think more about machines and intelligence again, in preparation for work on the next book.
Comment by Brian Triber — December 13, 2010 @ 7:56 pm