HLFF Blog: How Modern Math Solved a Mystery About an Ancient Greek Computer

Back March 5, 2025 HLFF Blog

Learn more about the Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient device discovered in a Roman shipwreck.

The Antikythera Mechanism – often called the world’s first analog computer – has baffled researchers for over a century. Discovered in a Roman-era shipwreck, this intricate, gear-driven device tracked celestial movements with astonishing precision. But one critical question remained: How many holes did its calendar ring contain, and what did that reveal about its purpose? Read the full story to discover how Bayesian inference helped crack an ancient code and what it means for our understanding of this early technology: HLFF Blog

Image caption: Reconstruction of the Antikythera mechanism. Image via Wikipedia (CC BY 3.0)

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