Antikythera Mechanism
Image courtesy of Faszination Uhrwerk
Antikythera at a glance
In 1900, a group of sponge divers working near the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera came upon an ancient shipwreck that was full of sculptures, jewelry , and bronzes. They also found fragments of gears that were extremely corroded, the Antikythera Mechanism.
This is a device used gears to calculate the movements of the sun, moon and planets through the sky, as well as predict eclipses. It is often referred to as the world’s first analog computer. Technology like this was not seen again for roughly 1,500 years.
Digital Exhibit
Browse the exhibit that was on display at the Parthenon from June-November 2021 to learn more about this special artifact.
Browse the former exhibition website page here.
Educational Resources
The museum offers programming for both public and school groups that explain the Antikythera Mechanism. From underwater archaeology to gears, there is so many ways to engage both at the museum and beyond.
Continue learning at home these activities:
Virtual Highlight Tour
Enjoy this tour of the Antikythera Mechanism exhibit that was on display from June-November 2021.
Special thanks to Mark Medley and Kelsey Kingdon for recording this up-close look at the 2021 exhibition.
Symposia
Connected to the Antikythera Mechanism exhibition, the Parthenon organized virtual talks by expert archaeologists who shared background information on underwater discoveries, discussed the treatment of artifacts in the shipwreck, and gave an overview of becoming an underwater archaeologist.
Underwater Archaeological
Discoveries
In this recorded virtual symposium from June 16, 2021, Dr. Steven L. Tuck of Miami University presents on underwater archaeological discoveries in "Decorating the Emperors' Dining Rooms: Underwater Discoveries and Changing Understanding."
Conserving
Antikythera Bronzes
In this recorded virtual symposium from July 21, 2021, Dr. Georgianna Moraitou, Head Conservator of the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece, presented “Conserving Bronzes at the National Archaeological Museum, Athens, Greece.”
Underwater
Archaeology
In this recorded virtual symposium from August 18, 2021, Dr. Anne Duray, Editorial Assistant for the American Journal of Archaeology, presented a talk titled “Underwater Archaeology.”