PTM and X-ray data to support Freeth, T., Revising the Eclipse Prediction Scheme in the Antikythera Mechanism
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... (We have now identi-fied and interpreted a total of 3,000 characters out of perhaps 15,000 that existed originally.) In Athens, Moussas and Yanis Bitsakis, also at the University of Athens, and Agamemnon Tselikas of the Center for... more
... (We have now identi-fied and interpreted a total of 3,000 characters out of perhaps 15,000 that existed originally.) In Athens, Moussas and Yanis Bitsakis, also at the University of Athens, and Agamemnon Tselikas of the Center for History and Palaeography be-...
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The ancient Greek astronomical calculating machine, known as the Antikythera Mechanism, predicted eclipses, based on the 223-lunar month Saros cycle. Eclipses are indicated on a four-turn spiral Saros Dial by glyphs, which describe type... more
The ancient Greek astronomical calculating machine, known as the Antikythera Mechanism, predicted eclipses, based on the 223-lunar month Saros cycle. Eclipses are indicated on a four-turn spiral Saros Dial by glyphs, which describe type and time of eclipse and include alphabetical index letters, referring to solar eclipse inscriptions. These include Index Letter Groups, describing shared eclipse characteristics. The grouping and ordering of the index letters, the organization of the inscriptions and the eclipse times have previously been unsolved. A new reading and interpretation of data from the back plate of the Antikythera Mechanism, including the glyphs, the index letters and the eclipse inscriptions, has resulted in substantial changes to previously published work. Based on these new readings, two arithmetical models are presented here that explain the complete eclipse prediction scheme. The first model solves the glyph distribution, the grouping and anomalous ordering of the i...
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The discoveries that the Antikythera Mechanism predicted eclipses and that the glyphs were eclipse predictions were published in 2006 [1]. The X-ray CT data of 2005 revealed many new inscriptions, which are completely hidden inside the... more
The discoveries that the Antikythera Mechanism predicted eclipses and that the glyphs were eclipse predictions were published in 2006 [1]. The X-ray CT data of 2005 revealed many new inscriptions, which are completely hidden inside the fragments (see main text Methods). These augmented inscriptions, were also published in 2006 [1], though a translation was not included in the publication. The additional inscriptions at the top of Figure S4 (B) are from X-ray CT of Fragment E and at the bottom from X-ray CT of Fragment F. It should be noted that in the right-hand transcription from 2006 the lines of text from Fragment E at top-left in blue and orange are one row too high. In other words, the start of lines 4 7 should be the start of lines 5 8. This must have arisen because of a misalignment of Fragment E relative to Fragment A.
The glyphs, which are presented in full in Figure S13, not only made predictions of a lunar or solar eclipse in a particular month but also what time of day that eclipse might occur. Eclipse times in the glyphs are given as integers on a... more
The glyphs, which are presented in full in Figure S13, not only made predictions of a lunar or solar eclipse in a particular month but also what time of day that eclipse might occur. Eclipse times in the glyphs are given as integers on a 12-hour scale using the ancient Greek number system with the alphabet standing for numbers and an additional symbol ς for 6. The times in the glyphs are modified by the Day/Night indicators \ and . These will be translated into a 24-hour scale as follows. The times are assumed to be equinoctial hours [1] and the reference time for the beginning of the day is assumed to be 6.00 am local time. If a lunar eclipse time, n, in a given glyph is preceded by \ (of the day), the time is taken as t = n. If it is not preceded by , the eclipse is assumed to occur at night and the time is taken as t = n + 12. Similarly, a solar glyph time n is interpreted as t = n if the symbol \ (of the night) is absent and t = n + 12 if it is present. "hours ...
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The structure functions of the ancient Greek astronomical calculator known as the Antikythera mechanism, are still hotly debated. A remarkable quote from Civero, exactly contemporary with the mechanism, describes an orrery made by... more
The structure functions of the ancient Greek astronomical calculator known as the Antikythera mechanism, are still hotly debated. A remarkable quote from Civero, exactly contemporary with the mechanism, describes an orrery made by Posidonius, which shows the "...motions of the sun, the moon and the five planets...". In Edmunds and Morgan 2000, it is persuasively argued that the device might have been primarily astrological and therefore likely to a Theory of Planetary mechanisms - possible designs are also described. Building on this work, a Theory of Planetary Mechanisms is developed which links their gear ratios with the "period relations" in the Babylonian Astronomical Diaries. Several possible designs for these mechanisms are also explored. It is often argued that there is insufficient space for all five planets in the Antikythera Mechanism, but it is shown here that they can fit in the case, using the same basic design - it could in fact be Posidonius' O...
The Antikythera mechanism is an extraordinary 2000 years old astronomical calculator, which was recovered 100 years ago by Greek sponge divers. Its true significance was not recognized until the research of Derek de Solla Price from the... more
The Antikythera mechanism is an extraordinary 2000 years old astronomical calculator, which was recovered 100 years ago by Greek sponge divers. Its true significance was not recognized until the research of Derek de Solla Price from the mid-1950's, which culminated in the classic Gears from the Greeks (Price 1974). Price undertook a detailed scientific examination, including x-rays, which showed that it was a complex mechanism with at least thirty gears. He also produced a model of the mechanism, which incorporated a differential-apparently far ahead of its time. This paper challenges some of the key conclusions of their classical research as well as a later revision of Price's model by Allan Bromley. New investiogations , using the latest technologies, are advocated in order to settle the many outstanding questions.
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ABSTRACT The Antikythera Mechanism is a geared astronomical calculating machine from ancient Greece. The extraordinary nature of this device has become even more apparent in recent years as a result of research under the aegis of the... more
ABSTRACT The Antikythera Mechanism is a geared astronomical calculating machine from ancient Greece. The extraordinary nature of this device has become even more apparent in recent years as a result of research under the aegis of the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project (AMRP) – an international collaboration of scientists, historians, museum staff, engineers, and imaging specialists. Though many questions still remain, we may now be close to reconstructing the complete machine. As a technological artifact, it is unique in the ancient world. Its brilliant design conception means that it is a landmark in the history of science and technology.
... Page 10. PoS(Antikythera & SKA)018 Building the Cosmos in the Antikythera Mechanism Tony Freeth 10 characters. Yanis Bitsakis and Agamemnon Tselikas read more than 900 new characters from our new data.3 Recently we have read even... more
... Page 10. PoS(Antikythera & SKA)018 Building the Cosmos in the Antikythera Mechanism Tony Freeth 10 characters. Yanis Bitsakis and Agamemnon Tselikas read more than 900 new characters from our new data.3 Recently we have read even more. ...
Researchers have used many different kinds of software to analyze the structure and astronomical functions of the Antikythera mechanism's surviving fragments. This ancient Greek calculator contains 30 gear wheels and has an... more
Researchers have used many different kinds of software to analyze the structure and astronomical functions of the Antikythera mechanism's surviving fragments. This ancient Greek calculator contains 30 gear wheels and has an extraordinarily sophisticated mechanical design.
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... (We have now identi-fied and interpreted a total of 3,000 characters out of perhaps 15,000 that existed originally.) In Athens, Moussas and Yanis Bitsakis, also at the University of Athens, and Agamemnon Tselikas of the Center for... more
... (We have now identi-fied and interpreted a total of 3,000 characters out of perhaps 15,000 that existed originally.) In Athens, Moussas and Yanis Bitsakis, also at the University of Athens, and Agamemnon Tselikas of the Center for History and Palaeography be-...