Archaeologists have uncovered new details about the 2,100-year-old Antikythera shipwreck, revealing insights into ancient Greek shipbuilding techniques and the famous Antikythera mechanism, an advanced astronomical device that modeled celestial cycles with impressive precision, showcasing the ingenuity of ancient engineering and scientific knowledge.
The Antikythera Mechanism, a complex ancient Greek astronomical computer, was far ahead of its time due to the advanced technology and scientific knowledge of the ancient Greeks. Discovered in 1900, the device contained intricate bronze gears and inscriptions, indicating its advanced mechanical design. German philologist Albert Rehm recognized its resemblance to the mechanical universe of Archimedes. Derek de Solla Price, a British physicist, studied the mechanism extensively and concluded that it represented a level of scientific technology that surpassed anything else from antiquity. The Antikythera Mechanism demonstrates the golden age of Greek science and the potential for a Greek industrial revolution that was hindered by the destruction of ancient Greek culture by Christians.