4 ms·

very little from the past survives through to today. I don't think there is any record of this device existing other than the device itself, and mention of it

very little from the past survives through to today. I don't think there is any record of this device existing other than the device itself, and mention of it after its discovery in the early 1900s. to some that will be proof that it is not truly an ancient device, and I think that is hogwash. most things just don't last that long, especially paper, which is where mention of the device would be found, if it ever is found.

mc32 5y ago
I don’t doubt it’s ancient. I’m not skeptic from that POV. I do find it curious that such an object would be exist but not have some fanfare around it. I’m sure there’s an explanation that eludes me. Could have been developed in some secrecy for example because it have the people who used it some advantage?
- leephillips 5y ago
  I think naikrovek explained it. We have but a few scraps of information from the ancient world. There might very well have been a fanfare; it might have been a huge deal—and we might still have no record of any mention of it.
- naikrovek 5y ago
  or maybe it was just a fairly common thing, then? the math used in the device is not complex, nor is its construction. it is only impressive to us because of what we assume about cultures of that time: that they are dumber than we are, less intelligent. they were just as smart as us, but they were far fewer in number, and had many more limitations than we have when it comes to the library of technologies and skills they can call on to accomplish their goals.
- jazzyjackson 5y ago
  Thinking of the most elaborate clockwork built today, those quarter million dollar wristwatches, there isn’t much written about them, maybe a youtube sizzle reel at most. Their customer base is small and they have little reason to document the inner-workings. Could be this mechanism was just an exquisite commission for a wealthy dude to keep on his boat.

mc32 5y ago

I don’t doubt it’s ancient. I’m not skeptic from that POV. I do find it curious that such an object would be exist but not have some fanfare around it. I’m sure there’s an explanation that eludes me. Could have been developed in some secrecy for example because it have the people who used it some advantage?

leephillips 5y ago
I think naikrovek explained it. We have but a few scraps of information from the ancient world. There might very well have been a fanfare; it might have been a huge deal—and we might still have no record of any mention of it.
naikrovek 5y ago
or maybe it was just a fairly common thing, then? the math used in the device is not complex, nor is its construction. it is only impressive to us because of what we assume about cultures of that time: that they are dumber than we are, less intelligent. they were just as smart as us, but they were far fewer in number, and had many more limitations than we have when it comes to the library of technologies and skills they can call on to accomplish their goals.
jazzyjackson 5y ago
Thinking of the most elaborate clockwork built today, those quarter million dollar wristwatches, there isn’t much written about them, maybe a youtube sizzle reel at most. Their customer base is small and they have little reason to document the inner-workings. Could be this mechanism was just an exquisite commission for a wealthy dude to keep on his boat.