The Antikythera mechanism, an ancient Greek device salvaged in 1901, is considered by scientists to be the world’s first computer. Today, the long-standing mystery surrounding this remarkable machine has finally begun to unravel.
Exactly 120 years later, a research team from University College London (UCL) has successfully reconstructed the awe-inspiring device using advanced 3D imaging technology.
This 3D reconstruction marks a major achievement and offers new possibilities for understanding how the Antikythera mechanism operated.
Only 82 mechanical fragments of the original device remain—just one-third of the entire mechanism—making it extremely difficult for scientists to grasp its complete structure.
The front of the mechanism, in particular, has been regarded as a kind of “Holy Grail” by archaeologists and astronomers, as most of the gears were concentrated in this area.
Using computer modeling, the UCL team has reconstructed the ancient machine, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of its original function.
In an article published in Scientific Reports, Professor Tony Freeth stated, “Our model is the first that conforms to all the physical evidence and matches the inscriptions found on the mechanism.”
“The Sun, Moon, and planets are all beautifully displayed in this great masterpiece of ancient Greek engineering.”
Researchers have named the largest mechanical fragment of the Antikythera mechanism “Fragment A.” This piece includes bearings, pillars, and a block. Another component, “Fragment D,” features a disk, a 63-tooth gear, and a plate-like structure.
Recently, inscriptions were discovered on the back cover of the mechanism. These markings describe how the positions of celestial bodies and planets were represented through the motion of colored indicator beads.
The UCL research team used data obtained from X-ray scans and applied ancient Greek mathematical principles to analyze and demonstrate how the device calculated the cycles of Venus and Saturn. Remarkably, they were also able to recover missing information related to the cycles of other planets.
The Antikythera mechanism is more than just a mechanical device—it is an extraordinarily complex astronomical computer.
Evangelos Vallianatos, who has authored multiple works on the Antikythera mechanism, stated in the Greek Reporter that the mechanism is not merely a mechanical artifact, but an incredibly sophisticated astronomical computer. “It was created by the Greeks,” he said.
They built this astronomical device 2,200 years ago using advanced knowledge in astronomy, mathematics, metallurgy, and engineering. The sheer antiquity of the mechanism, combined with its near-perfect technical execution, has deeply perplexed many scientists who have studied it.
Vallianatos noted that in the 20th century, some Western scientists were shocked by the invention of the Antikythera mechanism. For decades, they referred to it as an astrolabe and refused to acknowledge it as a computer. While the astrolabe—also invented by the ancient Greeks—was a tool to calculate the positions of the Sun and major planets, its sophistication pales in comparison to the Antikythera mechanism.
The Antikythera computer is an essential part of a grand blueprint of human civilization. Vallianatos explained that Greek philosophers incorporated concepts of equality and justice into the elemental framework of the cosmos—cold, heat, dryness, and moisture—as guiding virtues for governance.
Thus, the Antikythera computer was born. Its front dial displays a universe populated by Helios the Sun god, Selene the Moon goddess, lunar phases, planets, major stars, and constellations. The inner ring of the dial represents the zodiac signs, while the outer ring marks the 365 days of the year.
This magnificent invention served as a bridge between the ancient Greeks and their gods. It not only predicted solar and lunar eclipses but also linked cosmic and natural events to the Olympic Games, Panhellenic festivals, and the culture of athletic competition.
The Discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism
On May 17, 1901, Greek divers discovered the Antikythera mechanism in the remains of an ancient shipwreck. Based on extensive research, scholars believe the device was manufactured between 150 and 100 BCE. Later studies suggested it was built around 205 BCE—just seven years after the death of Archimedes.
That same day, Greek statesman Spirydon Stais visited a museum housing treasures recovered from the ancient shipwreck. Among them, a round green piece of metal caught his attention—it looked like something from the seabed near the Greek island of Antikythera.
The shipwreck had only recently been found by local fishermen. One of them had brought up a bronze arm from the seafloor—the very first artifact recovered from the Antikythera shipwreck.
Realizing the potential significance of this find, Stais swiftly organized the first underwater excavation of the ancient wreck—an expedition that would yield astonishing results.
But compared to the coins, pottery, and sculptures found alongside it, this peculiar object is undoubtedly the most significant discovery to date.
It is what scientists and archaeologists later called the world’s first computer—the Antikythera Mechanism.
This ancient device had been buried underwater for nearly 2,100 years. Made of bronze gears and other metallic components, it once functioned smoothly but is now heavily corroded and rusted.
For decades, archaeologists and scientists have tried to uncover the purpose of this complex machine. Rough estimates place its construction between 200 and 70 BCE. In recent years, researchers have used X-ray and CT scanning technology to explore the internal structure of the device and create replicas.
The results were astonishing. Scientists discovered that the mechanism was a highly sophisticated instrument composed of 30 gears. These gears worked together to track the positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets, and to calculate solar and lunar eclipses, as well as the dates of the Olympic Games.
By turning a hand-crank, the user could activate the gears, which in turn moved various dials and pointers—allowing them to predict eclipses and the movements of celestial bodies across the sky.
The Antikythera Mechanism Rewrites the History of Science
In 2015, Kyriakos Efstathiou, Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and head of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project, stated:
“All of our research shows that our ancestors built this device using extensive astronomical and technological knowledge. As a result, the history of technology has been rewritten, because this machine pushes the origins of advanced engineering back by several centuries.”
Efstathiou further explained that the Antikythera Mechanism is unquestionably the first known ancient device that can be defined in scientific terms as a computer, because “it is a machine into which we can input data and receive outputs based on scientific and mathematical principles.”
He proclaimed: “We have never seen anything like it before.”
Efstathiou emphasized: “It’s not a simple computer—it’s a supercomputer.”
In 2016, another remarkable study revealed that the mechanism also bore a set of inscriptions. These inscriptions served as labels or even an operating manual for the device.
They included detailed descriptions of the colors of eclipses, astrological predictions, and precise instructions for calculating the timing of eclipses and the correct paths of celestial bodies.
The numbers 76, 19, and 223 engraved on the mechanism suggest that its builders were followers of Pythagoreanism.
A crank located on one side of the mechanism served as the system’s main control. By turning it, users could rotate the dials on the front and back of the machine, allowing them to set a date and monitor astronomical events occurring around the Earth.
Physicist Yiannis Bitsakis once remarked that today NASA’s website can provide detailed predictions of past and future eclipses. But he also noted,
“What we use computers for today, the Antikythera Mechanism could already do some 2,000 years ago.”
“What we use computers for today, the Antikythera Mechanism was already capable of doing some 2,000 years ago,” he said.
After successfully deciphering more than 3,400 characters of fragmented inscriptions, the research team was able to identify complete sentences. This not only helped them better understand the function of the mechanism, but also revealed that the inscriptions served as a user manual for its operation.
Astrophysics professor Xenophon Moussas remarked,
“The roots of today’s computers and mobile phone technology can be seen in the gears of the Antikythera Mechanism,” and the inscriptions on the device serve as proof of this connection.
“The Antikythera Mechanism is the foundation of all civilization,” Moussas said.
“Most importantly, we can see the physical laws applied within the mechanism, and the inscriptions verify it. The numbers 76, 19, and 223 inscribed on the device further demonstrate that its creators were followers of Pythagoreanism.”
As another professor put it, this ancient computer is the origin of all civilization and technology—in fact, it can be considered the earliest known ‘tablet computer.’
The device also includes an astrological calendar, with a pointer that rotates around the zodiac, designed to reveal the movements of the Moon and planets.
The Mechanism Was Designed for Use in Multiple Locations
Even more astonishing is that the planetary motion tracked by the Antikythera Mechanism was directly linked to specific observation points around the known world at the time. This suggests that the creators of the device had designed it for use in more than one location.
This remarkable insight came after scientists noticed inscriptions on the mechanism mentioning places such as “Dodona” and “Alexandria.” According to researchers, the device could also calculate the timing of athletic competitions held every four years, such as the Olympic Games and the Isthmian Games.
All scientists and researchers involved in the analysis agree that the Antikythera Mechanism is the most important shipwreck discovery in human history.
Human Remains Found at the Antikythera Shipwreck Site
In late 2019, Greece’s Ministry of Culture announced new findings at the Antikythera shipwreck site, located near the southern Peloponnese island of Antikythera—the same site where the mechanism was originally discovered.
The statement noted:
“Human remains have been found at the site and will now be analyzed. Other discoveries include olive pits, bronze nails from the ship, and bronze rings whose purposes remain unknown.”
The discoveries also included parts of ancient amphorae, such as the bodies, bases, and necks of these vessels. Researchers identified the amphorae as types commonly used in ancient Kos and southern Italy.
The Greek Ministry of Culture added:
“The October 2019 expedition concluded the first five-year research program. Based on the latest findings, preparations are already underway for the new five-year research phase starting in May 2020, which will continue excavations in various areas of the wreck. There are strong indications that more significant discoveries lie ahead.”
Despite rough weather and limited research time, the ministry emphasized that:
“This expedition was a tremendous success.”
Excavation Footage Reveals the Perilous Work of Marine Archaeologists
Research at the famous Antikythera shipwreck site would not be possible without the support of the Athanasios Laskaridis Public Benefit Foundation.
A video titled “Return to Antikythera 2017 Expedition” showcases the precise and dangerous work undertaken by marine archaeologists as they recovered ancient artifacts from the deep sea.
Led by the Greek Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities, Lund University, and the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the expedition took place from September 4 to 20, 2017. Based on previous experiences at the site, the team had high expectations—and they were not disappointed.
Thanks to excellent weather conditions, the divers recovered a number of valuable artifacts, including:
- A right arm from a bronze statue
- Fragments of pottery
- Nails
- Lead sheeting
- And a mysterious metal disk
Even before this particular mission, the “Return to Antikythera” project had already recovered a remarkable array of finds, such as:
- Glassware
- Luxury ceramics
- Anchors
- Counterweights
- Tools
- And even the skeletal remains of an ancient individual
DNA analysis of the ancient bones is still ongoing, offering further potential insights into the lives of those connected to this remarkable shipwreck.
