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Advanced imaging reveals a computer 1500 yrs ahead of its time
Posted on 12/31/13 at 1:25 pm
Posted on 12/31/13 at 1:25 pm
quote:
In 1900, some divers found the wreck of a Roman vessel off the Greek island of Antikythera. Among the other treasures remanded to the Greek government was an unassuming corroded lump. Some time later, the lump fell apart, revealing a damaged machine of unknown purpose, with some large gears and many smaller cogs, plus a few engraved words in Greek. Early studies suggested it was some type of astronomical time-keeping device – researcher Derek J. de Solla Price laid the groundwork by establishing initial tooth counts and suggesting that the device followed the Metonic cycle, a 235-month pattern commonly used to predict eclipses in the ancient world.
quote:
The findings, published in Nature, are probably best described as "mind blowing." Devices with this level of complexity were not seen again for almost 1,500 years, and the Antikythera mechanism's compactness actually bests the later designs. Probably built around 150 B.C., the Antikythera mechanism can perform a number of functions just by turning a crank on the side
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Using nothing but an ingenious system of gears, the mechanism could be used to predict the month, day and hour of an eclipse, and even accounted for leap years. It could also predict the positions of the sun and moon against the zodiac, and has a gear train that turns a black and white stone to show the moon's phase on a given date. It is possible that it could also show the astronomical positions of the planets known to the ancients: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.
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The complexity of the mechanism shows that ancient humans were capable of intellectual and engineering feats that boggle our modern minds (and it puts the lie to all those "ancient astronaut" theories). The upheavals of war and natural disasters over 2,000 years have probably caused us to lose many more works and wonders that will never be found.
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Posted on 12/31/13 at 1:28 pm to Alahunter
You misunderestimate the power of the 'ancient astronauts' folk.
Trust me, everything that was mentioned in every single one of your quotes will be used as evidence for ancient astronauts or what have you in an upcoming episode.
Trust me, everything that was mentioned in every single one of your quotes will be used as evidence for ancient astronauts or what have you in an upcoming episode.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:13 pm to Alahunter
This stunning bronze statue was aboard the same shipwreck as the Antikethera Mechanism. Notice the incredible detail of the eyes.
The people of that time and area of the Mediterranean were engrossed in the physical sciences, unfettered by religious dogma. It's sad that war and geological upheavals ended the exploratory culture of that period.
The people of that time and area of the Mediterranean were engrossed in the physical sciences, unfettered by religious dogma. It's sad that war and geological upheavals ended the exploratory culture of that period.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:20 pm to Kentucker
Statues always make me feel way more endowed than the internet.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:47 pm to TeLeFaWx
That statue was the precursor to the internet webcam showing of the penis and quote function, as the right hand shows.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:53 pm to Kentucker
Must have been a really cold day.Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:55 pm to Alahunter
the ancients knew a lot more and could do a lot more with less than we will ever do. They put the noggin and knuckle to work back then. I mean, shite, we couldn't build some of the stuff they did back then without complex machinery. Which bears to question...are we smarter, or beneficiaries of complex devices? Which also leads to, are we smarter for creating such machinery, yada yada....
but seriously. Super cool.
but seriously. Super cool.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:55 pm to nc14
Serious case of genital warts
Posted on 12/31/13 at 6:55 pm to Alahunter
I thought he was demonstrating the two a seam slider.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 7:03 pm to Alahunter
quote:
That statue was the precursor to the internet webcam showing of the penis and quote function, as the right hand shows.
I'd like to know the significance of the right hand's pose. Maybe it was holding something? We know too little about the cultures of the Mediterranean just before the birth of Jesus.
They were certainly innovative. I predict we'll find other inventions as incredible as the Antikythera Mechanism.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 7:12 pm to Kentucker
Damn he's hung. 
Posted on 12/31/13 at 7:15 pm to Kentucker
It is remarkable, to me, the level of knowledge they had and the ability to transfer it into devices to further their knowledge. And for it to have not been duplicated or rediscovered for a millenia and a half.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 7:41 pm to aslavey
quote:
Damn he's hung.
No, but he's really hard.
And I think mindblowing is appropriate, I can't comprehend something like that being from so long ago. Amazing.
Posted on 12/31/13 at 7:44 pm to Alahunter
Imagine the vast amount of knowledge that was housed in the great Library of Alexandria, none of which was saved from the fires of war.
Or the incredible books of the Mayans and other inhabitants of the Americas that were burned by Spanish invaders.
We've progressed as a species in fits and starts. We could be so much more advanced if our knowledge had come in an uninterrupted stream.
Or the incredible books of the Mayans and other inhabitants of the Americas that were burned by Spanish invaders.
We've progressed as a species in fits and starts. We could be so much more advanced if our knowledge had come in an uninterrupted stream.
This post was edited on 12/31/13 at 7:46 pm
Posted on 12/31/13 at 7:53 pm to Kentucker
No doubt. I would love for lost books from Alexandria to be foumd somehow. There is no telling the vast amount of knowledge lost.
Posted on 1/1/14 at 11:52 am to Alahunter
This has been one of my hobbies over many years. I think there were some pretty advanced civilizations on earth in the past, and none of them came from Alpha Centauri or any other extra terrestrial point of origin. Some of these may have been even more advanced than we are today in some respects.
Posted on 1/2/14 at 1:07 am to Kentucker
quote:
Imagine the vast amount of knowledge that was housed in the great Library of Alexandria, none of which was saved from the fires of war.
Or the incredible books of the Mayans and other inhabitants of the Americas that were burned by Spanish invaders.
Wait... I thought you saw religious dogma as some type of burden? What exactly do you think was/is in Mayan codices?
Posted on 1/2/14 at 1:10 am to nc14
holy shite I lost it when I read that 
Posted on 1/2/14 at 12:25 pm to RandyVandy
quote:
Wait... I thought you saw religious dogma as some type of burden? What exactly do you think was/is in Mayan codices?
I'm sure the library in Alexandria was littered with religious texts, too. The Mayan works were centered on rituals no doubt but they may have offered unique insights into humanity.
Is your outlook as black and white as your post indicates?
Posted on 1/2/14 at 3:42 pm to GoldenDawg
quote:
You misunderestimate the power of the 'ancient astronauts' folk. Trust me, everything that was mentioned in every single one of your quotes will be used as evidence for ancient astronauts or what have you in an upcoming episode.
It was already used in one of the first Ancient Aliens episodes. That's where I heard of it.
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