The Antikythera Mechanism

"This book tells the story behind the genius of the Antikythera Mechanism, including the decoding of its secrets in the last 120 years. It gives the ancient Greek historical context that makes sense of the computer: explaining its matchless genius. Vallianatos explains how and why Greek scientists employed advanced engineering in translating the beautiful conception of the Antikythera Mechanism into an astronomical computer of genius: a bronze-geared device of mathematical astronomy predicting the eclipses of the Sun and the Moon; calculating the risings and settings of important stars and constellations; the movements of the planets around the Sun, while mechanizing the predictions of scientific theories. The computer's accurate calendar connected these cosmic phenomena to the Olympics and other major Panhellenic religious and athletic celebrations, bringing the Greeks closer to their gods, traditions, and the Cosmo. This book should be of special interest to those interested in Greek civilization and the history of science"--