The Antikythera Mechanism, an ancient Greek artifact believed to be the world’s oldest computer, has been found to have design flaws. The mechanism, discovered in a first century B.C. shipwreck off the coast of Greece in 1901, is composed of a hand crank and series of interlocking bronze gears. Researchers suggest that its triangular-shaped gear teeth may have caused it to jam frequently.
Computer simulations of the device’s current design indicate that the gear’s teeth would disengage regularly, causing the machine to malfunction. According to estimates, the mechanism could only be cranked for about four months into the future before the gears slipped and required a reset. However, researchers note that their measurements may be off due to corrosion and distortion over 2,000 years.
The discovery sheds new light on the Antikythera Mechanism’s capabilities and limitations. The device was likely used to predict astronomical phenomena such as eclipses and planetary movements. Further research is needed to understand its true potential and any potential contributions it made to ancient Greek technology.
Source: https://archaeology.org/news/2025/04/15/new-study-suggests-antikythera-mechanism-had-design-flaws