3 ms·

The Antikythera Mechanism indicates that those assumptions may not be true.

• ch4s3 4y ago
  The Antikythera Mechanism dates to the 2nd century BCE, so about 300 years later than the period in question.
  • account-5 4y ago
    > According to the Smithsonian Magazine, Roman statesman Cicero reported that 3rd century BC Greek mathematician Archimedes apparently owned such a device, a full 500 years before the apparent age of the Antikythera Mechanism. [0] Not saying this is true but only that something that complicated doesn't just pop into existence. [0] https://www.grunge.com/223314/the-truth-about-the-computer-built-by-ancient-greeks/ https://www.grunge.com/223314/the-truth-about-the-computer-b...
    • ch4s3 4y ago
      Of course it comes from somewhere, and of course there we maps of the region in early antiquity. The 3rd century B.C.E is actually 200 years after the date in the article and 100 years before the Antikythera Mechanism. You can find a translation of Cicero here[1], which claims that Archimedes novel invention was the differentiated movement speed of other celestial bodes in the "same revolution." Pretty cool if true, but it does imply that people were tinkering with similar things at the time. [1]https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54161/54161-h/54161-h.htm https://www.gutenberg.org/files/54161/54161-h/54161-h.htm