Landscapes, Circles and Antikythera : The Birth of the Mechanical Universe
Part of : Mediterranean archaeology & archaeometry : international journal ; Vol.6, No.3, 2006, pages 87-92
Issue:
Pages:
87-92
Section Title:
Articles
Author:
Abstract:
The joint Greek/UKAJS Antikythera Mechanism Research Project is currently producing a definitiveset of experimental optical and X-ray imaging data of the Mechanism. The interpretation willrequire a good knowledge of the context in which it was made. Following from the "sacred landscapes"of northern Europe it is difficult to escape the symbolism of the "circle" in prehistonc cosmologies,and the pre-eminence of the circle in Greek astronomical thought is obvious. Is the "circular"ikon of the main wheel in the Antikythera Mechanism simply another gear wheel, or might ideasof cosmology have inßuenced its design ? How important would devices like the Antikythera Mechanismhave been in providing a physical model of the Universe, pushing mathematical abstraction intoreality? The relevance of the Mechanism in understanding the development of ideas and philosophy,particularly determinism, is emphasised
Subject:
Subject (LC):
Keywords:
Ancient cosmology, Circle symbolism, Greek astronomy, Determinism
