Antikythera Mechanism

Computers are the building blocks of the modern world. Nothing really symbolizes the current era of human existence like them.

What if I told you the first computer was over 2000 years old?

You’d either tell me that you’ve already heard of the Antikythera mechanism, or you might have a reaction like this:

This ancient Greek device was used to predict astronomical positions and eclipses, and it was incredibly sophisticated and intricate—and not only for its time. The mechanism, dating back to between 150 and 100 BCE, gives us our first glimpse into mankind's ability to solve complex problems in the laziest way imaginable.

It’s also probably the most complex piece of engineering we’ve ever seen from the ancient world, and I don’t think I’m being overly dramatic here.

Let’s back up just a little. The Antikythera mechanism was discovered in 1900 by Greek sponge-divers, who discovered a sunken ship full of treasures. The mechanism just looked like a lump of corroded bronze, with little ar…