Rabid Reference Question #5

Dear Rabid Librarian:

What is the Antikythera Mechanism?

--A Reader

Dear Reader:

The Antikythera Mechanism is a device found in the early part of the last century off the coast of the island of Antikythera. Its bronze gears indicate that it may have been used as an astronomical calculating device. Others suggest that it may have been a model for the epicyclic motion of planets. It appears to date from around 80 BCE. Its existence has caused scientists to re-think ancient technology.

Here are some links about the device:

A history of the device
Pictures of the assembly
The Economist
Animations of the Mechanism
A Longer Version of The Economist Article as it Appeared in Print

There are some books you might want to check at your local library or order through stores. Among them:

1. James, Peter and Nick Thorpe. Ancient Inventions, 1995. (This is an excellent book which I used to have, until I loaned it to a classmate. Must re-order at some point!)
   
2. Price, Derek. Gears from the Greeks: the Antikythera mechanism--a calendar computer from ca. 80 BC, 1975.
   
3. Murray, Charles. Human accomplishment: the pursuit of excellence in the arts and sciences, 800 BC to 1950, 2003.