Building the Cosmos in the Antikythera Mechanism

Abstract

Ever since its discovery by Greek sponge divers in 1901, the Antikythera Mechanism has inspired fascination and fierce debate. In the early years no-one knew what it was. As a result of a hundred years of research, particularly by Albert Rehm, Derek de Solla Price, Michael Wright and, most recently, by members of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project, there has been huge progress in understanding this geared astronomical calculating machine. With its astonishing lunar anomaly mechanism, it emerges as a landmark in the history of technology and one of the true wonders of the ancient world. The latest model includes a mechanical representation of the Cosmos that exactly matches an inscription on the back cover of the instrument. We believe that we are now close to the complete machine.

Zodiac Calendars in the Dead Sea Scrolls and Their Reception

“…Prosymna globe. The existence of solar and lunar zodiac calendar schemes in the Greco-Roman and Hellenistic-Mesopotamian worlds shows that different cultures in the region shared scientific ideas within their own scholarly frameworks, while retaining their own 'language,' identities, and scientific historical backgrounds 137 and traditions. 138 Aside from the 'Enoch Zodiac,' there were other zodiac-sundial models, such as that described in Tetrabiblos 1.…”

“…They have a similar, if not identical zodiac-tree pattern to the ivory sundial from Tanis, Ptolemaic Egypt. 137 The details of the longevity of the ancient sundial schemes are not the subject of this study; however, their re-appearance in the medieval and early modern period is noted.…”

“…van der Waerden, "History of the Zodiac," AfO 16 (1952): 221;so Rochberg, Heavenly Writing, 132. 89 Rochberg-Halton, "New Evidence for the History of Astrology," [128][129]translation,[136][137][138]"Babylonian Horoscopes," 71. 91 Sachs,"Babylonian Horoscopes,, transcription of tcl 6.14: 65-67; translation, 67-70.…”

“…136 A broken omen-the protasis is badly damaged-is inscribed above the images and a micro-zodiac, commencing with the zodiac sign of Virgo and ending in Leo, is written in columns beneath the pictorial representations. 137 The omen relates to a lunar eclipse in the month of Elul (Month vi, corresponding to Virgo, and which is represented by the image of Virgo) and its interpretation:…”

“…24 Their design and production continued in later antiquity: dials, in many types, shapes and sizes, with and without a zodiacal element, appear to have been plentiful, fashionable, and part of the cultural and material landscape of Greek and Roman societies.25 24 Evans,"Gnōmonikē Technē,[273][274][275][276][277][278][279][280][281][282][283][284][285][286][287][288][289][290][291][292]Evans,History and Practice,[129][130][131][132][133][134][135][136][137][138][139][140][141]Gibbs,Greek and Roman Sundials,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11]Vitruvius,On Architecture 9:8.1, describes the different kinds of sundials and names their inventors; Pliny, Natural History 2. [182][183][184][185][1...…”