Exhibition at the MPIWG

The Antikythera Mechanism exhibition, held at the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin is realized in the frame of the Excellence Cluster TOPOI. With kind support of The History, Philosophy and Didactics of Science and Technology Program of the Institute for Neohellenic Reasearch, Athens and special thanks for the support of Dr. George Vlahikis and his team in Athens. An exhibition initiated by Matteo Valleriani.

The Antikythera Mechanism

On Easter Tuesday, 1900, sponge divers from the island of Symi discovered a Roman shipwreck near the coast of the small island of Antikythera. A few months later, the Greek State organized the very first major underwater archaeology expedition, with the sponge divers, assisted by the Greek Royal Navy.

How does the Mechanism work?

Turning a crank handle moves all the pointers, simultaneously through gears and axleshat connect them. By selecting a date on the front 365-day dial (with the possibility of an extra leap day every four years), corresponding information can be read about the astronomical bodies on the other dials. Alternatively, the user can select an astronomical event and then see when the date will occur (or has occurred in the past).

Where was the Antikythera Mechanism found?

It is thought that the Mechanism was probably built during the second half of the 2nd century BCE, as part of the tradition of “Sphairopoiia” (spheremaking), possibly originated by Archimedes.

Current Research on the Antikythera Mechanism

From May 1902, in the first publication about the discoveries from the Antikythera wreck, the “strange bronze machine” with a possible astronomical function is mentioned. Subsequent publications referred to the word “astrolabe”, while other opinions prefered a more complex device, such as a planetarium. The debate continued until the 1970s and the first X-rays, when consensus was reached about the nature of the artefact: it is a mechanical calculating device which displays calendars and related astronomical phenomena.