CURIOSITAS Talks: "Unlocking a sea secret: the Antikythera Mechanism"

Date

May 9, 2019

Time

3:00 PM - 4:00 PM

Speaker

Dr. Markos Skoulatos

Affiliation

Technische Universität München

Language

en

Main Topic

Chemie

Other Topics

Chemie, Physik

Host

Doktorandenseminar

Description

Without any doubt, the oldest computer of mankind, known as the Antikythera Mechanism, is the greatest technological achievement of antiquity. A century was necessary in order to reveal its secrets. What is it though, that inspires until now four generations of scientists? We will navigate from its discovery by sponge divers, up to the latest word of modern technology in order to solve its puzzle. I will analyse its functions, epicyclic and differential gearings, the indications it gives us and how to read them. We will see how astronomy, mathematics and engineering, all come together at a small portable mechanical device. At the end, there will be an opportunity to operate some simple hand-held devices that use similar technology to the Antikythera Mechanism. Our purpose is to familiarise with this “mysterious” construction as well as to individually discover what it is that inspires, still, despite 2 millennia from its original construction.

Links

• MPI CPfS

Last modified: May 10, 2019, 12:06:35 AM