Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: DoctorBeaver on 03/09/2007 18:59:08

Title: The Antikythera Mechanism
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 03/09/2007 18:59:08

I think this topic belongs here.

Maybe the ancients really were more advanced than we normally give them credit for.

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/889 (http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/node/889)

Title: The Antikythera Mechanism
Post by: syhprum on 04/09/2007 07:36:44

A great deal has been published about this machine with various reconstrutions, this is not the best!

Title: The Antikythera Mechanism
Post by: Soul Surfer on 04/09/2007 08:20:52

Our local astronomical society had a lecture on it a few months ago it is very interesting and displays great skills but requires no more knowledge than that of simple gear mechanisms and the thourough periodic analysis of a great many astronomical observations going back over hundreds or even thousands of years and we already know that the ancients were very capable of doing that.  The greeks knew all about the periodicity of eclipses the precession of the equinoxes (that takes 25,000 years to complete)  The approximate size of the spherical earth and the approximate distance of the moon.

Title: The Antikythera Mechanism
Post by: DoctorBeaver on 04/09/2007 08:30:47

Ian - I fully appreciate that their knowledge was quite advanced; but I, and possibly a lot of other people, didn't realise their engineering & mechanical skills were of that standard.