Last month I posted a documentary on ‘decoding’ of the Antikythera Mechanism, the 2000-year-old ‘computer’ found in a shipwreck off the Greek coast. For those who found that interesting – or even if you’re just a ‘Maker’ – you might like to check out a new series of YouTube videos being posted by Chris of Clickspring Projects, in which he is attempting to make a version of the Antikythera Mechanism faithful to the original construction (though using modern machinery.
You’ll find the first three episodes below – though the project is still to be completed, so you might like to subscribe to his channel to be notified when the next episode drops.
As he makes each part, Chris discusses how the original pieces were likely made – including the techniques that were probably used, and also the tools they might have employed. He explores those topics in even more depth in a couple of ‘on-the-side’ videos, one on making a small parts vise, and the other one, below on the tiny teeth used in the gear wheels:
When you see the skill involved in what Chris does – and how he does parts of it with modern machinery – we can only stand in awe of the talents of whomever originally conceived of, and built, the Antikythera Mechanism in ancient times.
If you found the videos interesting and educational, note that Chris has a Patreon page for ClickSpring where you can support his brilliant work.
(via Make)
Related stories:
- Decoding the Antikythera Mechanism
- Newly Decoded Text on Antikythera Mechanism Gives New Insights Into the Functions of an ‘Ancient Computer’
- Return to Antikythera: Team Goes in Search of More Lost Treasures of Antiquity
- The Star Computer of the Ancient World – Revealing the Secrets of the Antikythera Mechanism
