Abstract
The Mechanism of Antikythera is the oldest, the only and in fact the very best known example of a complex astronomical device, a dedicated analogue astronomical computer, possibly a planetarium, a device made with gears. We know that this type of devices have been used as educational devices in schools. As we read in Cicero and other ancient texts, great scientists and philosophers developed and used such devices either for education, entertainment, or to impress one’s visitors and guests, including state persons during their state visits. Such mechanisms were also offered to them as gifts (as it happened during the Byzantine times, and not only, when visitors entering the palace in Constantinople were passing through a hall with roaring mechanical lions, and other technological executives).
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Xenophon Moussas
Astrophysics Laboratory, Faculty of Physics
National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Panepistimiopolis, GR 15783 Zographos, Athens, Greece mobile +30 6978792891
e-mail: xmoussas@phys.uoa.gr
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Moussas, X. (2011). The Antikythera Mechanism. In: Kokkotas, P.V., Malamitsa, K.S., Rizaki, A.A. (eds) Adapting Historical Knowledge Production to the Classroom. SensePublishers. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-349-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-6091-349-5_8
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