In 1900, near the Greek island of Antikythera, a unique find was discovered, which, after 100 years, was destined to become a real sensation. This is the so-called Antikythera mechanism. Parts of this, as scientists believe, devices were found next to the sunken in 65 BC. an antique ship, which, according to some versions, followed from Rhodes to Rome. The astonishing find - some strange-looking details - along with numerous amphoras and statues, were placed in the National Archaeological Museum in Athens. It is possible that the fragments of the device, overgrown with limestone, could at first be mistaken for a piece of a statue. One way or another, the unique artifact was forgotten for exactly half a century …
In 1951, the English historian of science Derek de Solla Price took up the study of the artifact. It was he who first suggested that the debris found at the bottom of the Aegean Sea are parts of some mechanical computing device. He also carried out the first X-ray study of the fragments of the mechanism and was even able to build its scheme. Price's article in Scientific American, published in 1959, sparked interest in the ancient artifact. Perhaps because Price first dared to call the mechanism an "ancient computer."
In 1971, a complete diagram of the Antikythera mechanism was drawn up, consisting of 32 gears. However, despite all the research attempts, the device remained a mystery to mankind for many years. Until modern scientists took up his research.
In 2002, Michael Wright, a mechanical specialist at the London Science Museum, created his own reconstruction of an ancient device. Wright also speculated that the mechanism could simulate the motion of the Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Saturn and Jupiter. And 3 years later, in 2005, the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project, a joint Greek-English project, was launched, which began a detailed study of the mechanism. At the same time, scientists announced the discovery of new, previously unknown fragments.
By 2006, scientists were able to read about 95% of the inscriptions found on the fragments of the ancient device (about 2000 Greek symbols in total). At the same time, the previously stated hypothesis of Michael Wright was confirmed: with the help of the Antiker mechanism, it was really possible to simulate the motion of the Moon, Sun, Mercury, Venus, Jupiter, Mars and Saturn. In the same year, a new reconstruction was presented for the first time, which consisted of 37 bronze gears found on a sunken Roman ship, 30 of which had been kept in the museum before, and 7 others were “hypothetical” missing. In total, the mechanism consisted of approximately 82 fragments.
On July 30, 2008, the final report on the results of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project was announced in Athens. So, the scientists found out the following:
1. The device could perform operations of addition, subtraction and division. From this it follows that before us is something like an ancient calculator.
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2. Antikythera mechanism is able to take into account the elliptical orbit of the Moon's motion.
3. The reverse side of the mechanism, badly damaged, was used to predict solar and lunar eclipses.
4. The text on the device is a normal operating manual.
“The texts are the usual instructions for using the device, which lists the parts of the mechanism,” says Janis Bitsakis. “It became obvious to us that with the help of the device it was possible to determine the distances between the planets.”
The presence of an instruction (if there really is one) may indicate that the device, originally manufactured in Rhodes by an unknown (?) Master, was intended for use by those who were not familiar with either the machinery manufacturing technique or the basic principles of working with the device. Simply put, the manufacturer and the consumer are not the same person.
Another problem that the researchers faced was establishing the exact date of the mechanism's creation. Decades ago, radiocarbon analysis dated the remains of the Roman ship to 65 BC, but thanks to X-ray equipment used by experts from the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project, the dating has been completely revised. It turned out that the "ancient computer" was created in 150-100. BC.
Here another question arises: who should be considered the author of such an unusual invention? Undoubtedly, supporters of the theory of paleocontact could not but use such a “profitable” find. According to the widespread version, the Antikythera mechanism is the most unique proof of the presence on Earth of more highly developed civilizations of alien origin, which, out of the kindness of their souls, solely for altruistic reasons, taught our ancient ancestors the mind to mind. The result of such "training", allegedly, was the "ancient Greek computer". However, here we will only consider plausible versions.
Some researchers tend to attribute the authorship of the Antikythera mechanism to the philosopher Posidonius and cite the words of Cicero as evidence. The ancient Roman politician and philosopher in his work "On the Nature of the Gods" wrote:
“If the Scythians or Britons were shown a sphere that our friend Posidonius recently made, which, while rotating, shows the movement of the Sun, Moon and five wandering luminaries day and night, exactly as in the sky, would not at least one of these barbarians realized that this is the creation of a thinking mind?"
True, the Antikythera mechanism cannot be called a "sphere", even with a strong desire. According to scientists, the device was mounted in a wooden case measuring 32x16x10 cm.
Other researchers attribute the authorship of the mechanism to the great ancient Greek mathematician, physicist and engineer from Syracuse, Archimedes (287 BC - 212 BC). In this regard, one should refer to the work of S. Zhitomirsky "Archimedes", in which he suggests that the Antikythera mechanism may be one of the variants of the so-called "Archimedes' globe". The globe, with the help of which it was possible to observe the movement of the moon, sun, planets and constellations, was first mentioned in the 1st century. BC.
In Cicero's work "On the State", one of the participants in the conversation describes the globe invented by Archimedes:
“I remember how I once together with Guy Sulpicius Gallus, one of the most learned people of our country … was visiting Mark Marcellus … and Gallus asked him to bring the famous" sphere ", the only trophy with which Marcellus' great-grandfather wished to decorate his home after taking Syracuse, a city full of treasures and wonders. I have often heard people talk about this “sphere”, which was considered a masterpiece of Archimedes, and I must confess that at first glance I did not find anything special in it. More beautiful and better known among the people was another sphere, created by the same Archimedes, which the same Marcellus gave to the Temple of Valor. But when Gallus began to explain to us the structure of this device with great knowledge of the matter, I came to the conclusion that the Sicilian had a talent greater than what a person can have. For Gallus saidthat … a solid sphere without voids was invented a long time ago … but, - said Gallus, - such a sphere on which the movements of the Sun, Moon and five stars, called … wandering, were represented, could not be created in the form of a solid body; Archimedes' invention is amazing precisely because he came up with how, during dissimilar movements during one revolution, to preserve unequal and different paths. When Gallus set this sphere in motion, it happened that on this ball of bronze the Moon replaced the Sun during as many revolutions as in how many days it replaced it in the sky itself …”.how, in case of dissimilar movements during one revolution, to maintain dissimilar and different paths. When Gallus set this sphere in motion, it happened that on this ball of bronze the Moon replaced the Sun during as many revolutions as in how many days it replaced it in the sky itself …”.how, in case of dissimilar movements during one revolution, to maintain dissimilar and different paths. When Gallus set this sphere in motion, it happened that on this ball of bronze the Moon replaced the Sun during as many revolutions as in how many days it replaced it in the sky itself …”.
Of course, it should not be ruled out that the Antikythera mechanism could be an improved version of the "Archimedes' globe." Zhitomirsky himself writes about it this way:
“The fact that Archimedes had successors is evidenced by the remains of an astronomical clock (or a movable astronomical calendar) dating back to the 1st century AD. BC. Parts of this device were found in 1900 on an antique ship raised from the seabed near the island of Antikythera. These parts were covered with a thick layer of sediment. The painstaking work on cleaning and reconstruction of the device began, which lasted more than one decade and has not been completely completed until now. The device was a bronze box in which several disks were placed, connected by a complex system of gear wheels. Traces of signs of the zodiac, months, graduations have been preserved on the disks. The Antikythera device can be a “flat” version of the Archimedean globe. Archimedes' book on the structure of the celestial globe, containing a description of its mechanisms,has been known for a long time. Therefore, it is likely that much in the construction of mechanical clocks, the birthplace of which is Byzantium, was suggested by Archimedes, the creator of the mechanical celestial globe."
One way or another, but if we assume that the ancient mechanism found in the Aegean Sea in 1900 is an improved and refined model of the "Archimedes' globe", then the mystery that has enveloped the Antikyra mechanism for so many decades dissipates like fog. Alas, there is no place for alien technologies, and even more so it would be naive to believe that the famous inventor from Syracuse came into contact with other civilizations who shared "secret" knowledge with him. And the "Archimedes' globe" itself, perhaps, is one of the most compelling arguments against the army of hunters for plates and aliens from other worlds, since it clearly demonstrates the potential of ancient scientists, the knowledge and technical achievements of that culture, whose representatives, according to the supporters of the theory of paleocontact, are not could independently, without any help,to create mechanisms “so complex for that time”.
On the other hand, a number of researchers (including historians) still doubt the possibilities of Greek science of the 2nd century. BC. The Greeks, they believe, could not have the necessary knowledge and, most importantly, the technologies that would have made it possible to create such a complex device, which is the Antikythera mechanism. For example, to make gears, at first it was necessary to master the technique of metal processing and use a lathe, albeit the simplest, but still.
One should not discount the likelihood that the ancient Greeks could borrow the technical achievements of other cultures, primarily the Babylonian and Egyptian. The Babylonians, for example, used astronomical calendars as early as the 5th century. BC, and the Egyptians had extensive knowledge of astronomy. But this is nothing more than a guess, which, by the way, does not bring researchers one step closer to unraveling the main "secret" of the Antikythera mechanism: why was the manufacturing technology of the ancient device lost? And this solution can be quite simple.
If the find really dates back to 150-100 years. BC, then how, in this case, can one explain the fact that similar devices appeared only in the 18th century? In other words, why were the technologies and knowledge used in the creation of the Antikyker mechanism lost and remained unknown to science until the 18th century? Was the mechanism made in a single copy or not? If not, why couldn't you find other similar devices? Some researchers suggest that the bronze from which such mechanisms were made was of great value at that time, and, naturally, the precious material could not be allowed to disappear. In a word, the devices were being melted down. And it is a miracle that the Antikyersky mechanism has survived to this day.
“It’s of fundamental importance that the only example of a mechanism that we now have came into our hands from the shipwreck - which is why it was not melted down,” says Mike Edmunds.
That is, precisely "thanks" to the shipwreck of a Roman ship carrying the Antikythera mechanism, modern scientists today have in their hands a unique artifact that is directly related to ancient science. True, not everything is as simple as it seems at first glance …
“What if it’s a part of an ordinary steam engine or a ship's engine? - says Doctor of Physical and Mathematical Sciences Viktor Tikhomirov. - Why not, because in the port bays of the Aegean Sea such kindness is apparently invisible.
Indeed, a rather curious version. But what about the inscriptions found on the parts of the device, which, according to the results of scientists, represent a description of the operation and rules of operation of the device?
Another hypothesis is quite bold, which completely rejects the very existence of a complex mechanical device capable of performing arithmetic operations and calculating the dates of solar and lunar eclipses. What if scientists just wishful thinking? Isn't it a mistake to recognize the scattered gears found as constituting parts of one whole mechanism? Is it possible that those 7 “hypothetical” elements added by experts during the last reconstruction are just a refinement of some simple Greek mechanism? In this case, we are not dealing with an "extraordinary device" as described by Mike Edmunds, but with a sample of primitive ancient Greek mechanics mistakenly modified by modern scientists. An indirect confirmation of this is the complete absence of any analogues of the Antikythera mechanism in history, the absence of its images and descriptions. Of course, one could assume that the device was nevertheless made in a single copy, but this explanation does not relieve us of the questions raised earlier: why are there no mentions of the device in written sources of that time and why was the mechanism manufacturing technology lost? Maybe there was no technology at all?Why is there no mention of the device in the written sources of that time and why was the technology of manufacturing the mechanism lost? Maybe no technology existed?Why is there no mention of the device in the written sources of that time and why the technology of manufacturing the mechanism was lost? Maybe no technology existed?
ANCIENT COMPUTER?
Numerous sources, especially greedy for various sensations, prefer to call the Antikythera mechanism an ancient computer. For example, the Itogi magazine wrote in 2007: "The conclusion reached by experts is sensational: a device raised from the bottom of the Aegean Sea and designed more than two thousand years ago can be considered the prototype of a modern computer."
Even Mike Edmunds, a professor at Cardiff University who led the Greek-English project to study the Antique Mechanism, firmly believes that the ancient device is an astronomical clock, while not hesitating to call the device a "calendar computer".
Of course, you can talk as long as you like about the complexity of the mechanism, argue about its origin, ascribe the authorship of the device to one or another ancient inventor, but one thing is clear - this is not a computer at all, and certainly not an invention of alien aliens, since the mechanism was created using quite “earthly technologies and using all the knowledge available at that time. Thanks to the latest research of modern scientists, today we can confidently say that the hypothesis of the extraterrestrial origin of the Antikythera mechanism, which some supporters of paleocontact defend, is a myth.
