An Animated Introduction to the Antikythera Mechanism: The World's First Analog Computer from Ancient Greece

"In 1900, Greek divers stumbled upon a 2,000-year-old shipwreck whose contents would shake our understanding of the ancient world. Among the remains were fragments of mangled wood and corroded metal, which archaeologists soon realized were parts of the oldest geared device ever discovered - and humankind's first computer. So, how did it work? Above, science journalist Max G. Levy explains the inner workings of the Antikythera Mechanism and how the Greeks put the device to use."

"For those who want to take a deeper dive into this ancient analog computer (there's a lot more to learn), we invite you to explore the titles in the Relateds section below. They'll take you deeper into this marvel of ancient engineering. If you would like to sign up for Open Culture's free email newsletter, please find it here. It's a great way to see our new posts, all bundled in one email, each day."

In 1900 Greek divers recovered a 2,000-year-old shipwreck containing mangled wood and corroded metal fragments that proved to be parts of the Antikythera Mechanism. The device dates to the 2nd century BCE and constitutes the oldest known geared mechanism and an early analog computer. Complex gear trains inside the mechanism reconstructed by researchers demonstrate the capacity to model astronomical cycles and forecast celestial events used by ancient Greek practitioners. Modern teams have developed physical reconstructions and digital models to study its internal workings. Ongoing investigation continues to reveal the sophistication of ancient engineering and instrument design.

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