page_title: Antikythera wreck
section_title: Discovery
hierarchical_section_title: Antikythera wreck / Discovery
caption_attribution_description: Français&#160;: Fragment principal de la machine d'Anticythère. Le mécanisme consiste en un système complexe de 32 roues et plaques portant des inscriptions relatives aux signes du zodiaque et aux mois. L'étude des fragments suggère qu'il s'agissait d'une sorte d'astrolabe utilisée pour la navigation maritime. L'interprétation désormais généralement acceptée remonte aux études du professeur Derek de Solla Price, qui fut le premier à suggérer que le mécanisme est une machine à calculer le calendrier solaire et lunaire, c'est-à-dire une machine ingénieuse pour déterminer le temps sur la base des mouvements du soleil et de la lune, leur relation (éclipses) et les mouvements des autres étoiles et des planètes connues à cette époque. Le mécanisme fut probablement construit par un mécanicien ingénieux de l'école de Poséidonios à Rhodes. Cicéron, qui visita l'île en 79/78 a. C. rapporte que de tels engins étaient en effet conçus par le philosophe stoïcien Poséidonios d'Apamée. La conception du mécanisme d'Anticythère paraît suivre la tradition du planétarium d'Archimède, et peut être reliée aux cadrans solaires. Son mode opératoire est basé sur l'utilisation de roues dentées. La machine est datée de 89 avant J.-C. environ et provient de l'épave trouvée au large de l'île d'Anticythère. Musée archéologique national, Athènes, n°15987. Español: Fragmento principal de la máquina de Anticitera. El mecanismo consiste en un sistema complejo de 32 ruedas y placas con inscripciones relativas a los signos del zodiaco, meses, eclipses y juegos pan-Helénicos. El estudio de los fragmentos sugiere que se trataba de una especie de astrolabio utilizado para la navegación marítima. La interpretación más aceptada procede de los estudios del profesor Derek de Solla Price, que fue el primero en sugerir que el mecanismo es una calculadora del calendario solar y lunar, es decir, una máquina ingeniosa para determinar el tiempo basándose a los movimientos del sol y de la luna, su relación (eclipses) y los movimientos de otros planetas y estrellas conocidos en esa época. El mecanismo fue construido, probablemente, por un ingeniero mecánico de la escuela de Poséidonios en Rhodes. Cicerón, quien visitó la isla en el 79/78 a. C., cuenta que tales ingenios fueron, en efecto, concebidos por el filósofo Poseidonios de Apamea. La concepción del mecanismo de Anticitera parece seguir la tradición del planetario de Arquímedes, y puede estar relacionado con los cuadrantes solares. Su funcionamiento está basado en el uso de ruedas dentadas. La máquina data del 89 a. C. aproximadamente, y proviene del naufragio encontrado en la isla de Anticitera. Museo Arqueológico Nacional, Atenas, n°15987. English: Main w:en:Antikythera mechanism fragment (fragment A). The mechanism consists of a complex system of 30 wheels and plates with inscriptions relating to signs of the zodiac, months, eclipses and pan-Hellenic games. The study of the fragments suggests that this was a kind of astrolabe. The interpretation now generally accepted dates back to studies by Professor w:en:Derek de Solla Price, who was the first to suggest that the mechanism is a machine to calculate the solar and lunar calendar, that is to say, an ingenious machine to determine the time based on the movements of the sun and moon, their relationship (eclipses) and the movements of other stars and planets known at that time. Later research by the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project and scholar Michael Wright has added to and improved upon Price's work. The mechanism was probably built by a mechanical engineer of the school of Posidonius in Rhodes. Cicero, who visited the island in 79/78 B.C. reported that such devices were indeed designed by the Stoic philosopher Posidonius of Apamea. The design of the Antikythera mechanism appears to follow the tradition of Archimedes' planetarium, and may be related to sundials. His modus operandi is based on the use of gears. The machine is dated around 89 B.C. and comes from the wreck found off the island of Antikythera. National Archaeological Museum, Athens, No. 15987.
context_page_description: The Antikythera wreck is a Roman-era shipwreck dating from the second quarter of the first century BC.
  It was discovered by sponge divers off Point Glyphadia on the Greek island of Antikythera in 1900.
  The wreck yielded numerous statues, coins, and other artifacts dating back to the fourth century BC, as well as the severely corroded remnants of a device many regard as the world's oldest known analog computer, the Antikythera mechanism. These ancient artifacts, works of art, and elements of the ship are now on display at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens.
context_section_description: Around Easter 1900, Captain Dimitrios Kondos and his crew of sponge divers from Symi sailed through the Aegean en route to fishing grounds off North Africa. They stopped at the Greek island of Antikythera to wait for favorable winds. During the layover, they began diving off the island's coast wearing the standard diving dresses of the time – canvas suits and copper helmets.
  Diver Elias Stadiatis descended to 45 meters depth, then quickly signaled to be pulled to the surface. He described a heap of rotting corpses and horses strewn among the rocks on the seafloor. Thinking the diver was drunk from the nitrogen in his breathing mix at that depth, Kondos donned diving gear and descended to the site. He soon returned to the surface with the arm of a bronze statue. Shortly thereafter, the men departed as planned to fish for sponges, but at the end of the season they returned to Antikythera and retrieved several artifacts from the wreck. Kondos reported the finds to authorities in Athens, and quickly Hellenic Navy vessels were sent to support the salvage effort from November 1900 through 1901.
caption: The Antikythera mechanism (Fragment A – front)
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