The Oldest Computer Of The World!

Thanks to the sophisticated techniques of radiography and imagery, an international team of researchers comes to elucidate the operation of one of the most mysterious objects of ancient Greece. Discovered in 1901 in a Roman wreck, it would be about a very sophisticated mechanical computer dedicated to the study of the astronomical phenomena. Of frightening complexity, it counted at least 37 bronze gears gone up in a box out of wooden of 31x19x10 cm. On the back face, two large dials in spiral indicated the phases of the Moon and made it possible to predict the eclipses.

On the front face, a dial posted the position of Sun and the Moon compared to the stars. The mention of the Venus planet leaves think that other indicators, now disappeared, reproduced on this same dial the trajectory of five planets known at the time.

Fortunately for the researchers, the originators of the mechanism described the operation of certain components on its case! Indeed, its refinement is such as a pair of offset gears simulated the modification the apparent speed of the Moon caused by the eccentricity of its orbit! Moreover, one device quite as clever introduced a correction for the leap years.

The Greek astronomer Hipparque or one of his disciples probably took part in his manufacture between 150 and 100 before our era. It would be necessary to wait more than a thousand years before finding comparable machines. Who knows which other technological wonders of Antiquity disappeared without a trace?

The technology was originally developed not for archeology, but as a method for improving photo realism and rendering efficiency in 3D graphics. It also could be used in criminal forensics, detecting distinctive characteristics in footprints or tire marks, for example. The technology also still has potential commercial uses for HP, but many of the techniques have been made available to the scientific world for academic purposes.