Antikythera mechanism

"Antikythera mechanism is an ancient mechanical analog computer designed to calculate astronomical positions. It was discovered in the Antikythera wreck off the Greek island of Antikythera, between Kythera and Crete, and has been dated to about 150-100 BC.The device is remarkable for the level of miniaturization and complexity of its parts, which is comparable to that of 18th century clocks. It has over 30 gears, with teeth formed through equilateral triangles. When past or future dates were entered via a crank (now lost), the mechanism calculated the position of the Sun, Moon or other astronomical information such as the location of other planets. It is possible that the mechanism is based on heliocentric principles, rather than the then-dominant geocentric view espoused by Aristotle and others.

While a century of research is finally answering the question of what the mechanism did, we are actually no nearer to answering the question what it was for. There are numerous suggestions, any of which could be right.

Practical uses of this device may have included the following:

• Astrology was commonly practiced in the ancient world. In order to create an astrological chart, the configuration of the heavens at a particular point of time is needed. It can be very difficult and time-consuming to work this out by hand, and a mechanism such as this would have made an astrologer's work very much easier.
• Calculating solar and lunar eclipses. However, the device would probably only have indicated days when eclipses might occur, and a more accurate calculation of the time of day would have to be done by hand.
• Setting the dates of religious festivals connected with astronomical events.
• Adjusting calendars, which were based on lunar cycles as well as the solar year"

-taken from Wikipedia, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antikythera_mechanism>

For more on the Antikythera mechanism check these links out:

http://www.world-mysteries.com/sar_4.htm

www.math.sunysb.edu/~tony/whatsnew/column/antikytheraI-0400/kyth1.html

http://www.antikythera-mechanism.gr/