The site of the wreck containing the Antikythera mechanism. Circa 1900-1901.
After spending 2,000 years at the bottom of the sea, the Antikythera mechanism was in no rush to reveal its secrets.
Archeologists who first examined the lumps of bronze in May 1902 noted tiny gear wheels and inscriptions in Greek. They cleaned and examined other lumps and were able to piece together some kind of device, 33 by 17 by 9 centimeters.
Eventually, researchers had 82 pieces, including 30 interlocking gear wheels — and an astoundingly modern-looking piece of technology.
But all this prompted more questions than answers. Researchers only had one-third of the device. And centuries underwater had taken its toll. Pieces of the device were clogged and corroded, which made reading the inscriptions or seeing how the gears might fit together next to impossible.
Plus, the device seemed incredibly advanced for the ancient Greeks. How could it be that such a device had been invented — and then had blinked out of existence for over 1,000 years?
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