GREEK TEXT FOUND on «OLDEST ASTRONOMY COMPUTER» by GREEK and BRITISH SCIENTISTS.

Finally what is Antikythera Mechanism and who secrets hides this Mechanism. The efforts of Greek and British universities, specialised scientists of the world's best high-technology companies, perhaps they attribute fruits for the researches. For this reason we inform the visitors and readers of Apodimos.com for it is Antikythera Mechanism Research Project and for the result of certain researches that they determine that in Antikythera Mechanism, found greek text, because this Mechanism works as an «oldest astronomy computer».

The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project

Written by Agamemnon Tselikas

More than a hundred years ago an extraordinary mechanism was found by sponge divers at the bottom of the sea near the island of Antikythera. It astonished the whole international community of experts on the ancient world. Was it an astrolabe? Was in an orrery or an astronomical clock? Or something else?

For decades, scientific investigation failed to yield much light and relied more on imagination than the facts. However research over the last half century has begun to reveal its secrets. It dates from around the 1st century B.C. and is the most sophisticated mechanism known from the ancient world. Nothing as complex is known for the next thousand years. The Antikythera Mechanism is now understood to be dedicated to astronomical phenomena and operates as a complex mechanical «computer», which tracks the cycles of the Solar System.

Previous researchers have used the latest technologies available to them-such as x-ray analysis-to try to begin to unravel its complex mysteries. Now a new initiative is building on this previous work, using the very latest techniques available today. The Antikythera Mechanism Research Project is an international collaboration of academic researchers, supported by some of the world's best high-technology companies, which aims to completely reassess the function and significance of the Antikythera Mechanism. Results are already very promising.

The project is under the aegis of the Hellenic Ministry of Culture and is supported by a grant from the Leverhulme Trust, UK. It has received strong backing from the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, which is custodian of this unique artefact. Two of the Museum's senior staff, Head of Chemistry, Eleni Magkou, and Archaeologist, Maria Zafeiropoulou, have co-ordinated the Museum's side of the project and are actively involved with the research.

One UK and two Greek universities are the core of the academic research group consists from the astronomer Mike Edmunds and the mathematician Tony Freeth (University of Cardiff), the astronomer John Seiradakis (University of Thessalonica), the astronomer Xenophon Moussas and the physicist, Yanis Bitsakis (University of Athens). And last, but not least, the philologist and palaeographer Agamemnon Tselikas (NBG Cultural Foundation).

During the first data-gathering phase in the autumn of 2005, the most innovative technologies were used to reveal unknown elements of the mechanism. This research was carried out by two world-class high technology companies, Hewlett Packard (US) and X-Tek Systems (UK). X-Tek's superb three-dimensional x-rays were imaged using software from the leading German company, Volume Graphics. Technical support was also provided by the University of Keele (UK). The whole process was filmed by Tony Freeth's Film and Television production company, Images First, for a forthcoming TV documentary.

During September 2005, three specialized scientists from Hewlett-Packard's Mobile and Media Systems Laboratory came to Athens with their innovative digital imaging system to examine the surface inscriptions and other features on the Antikythera Mechanism. The HP team-Tom Malzbender, Dan Gelb and Bill Ambrisco-brought with them a remarkable piece of specialist equipment: a Dome that surrounds the sample under examination and takes a series of still photos to analyze the three-dimensional structure of the surface. This enables astonishingly detailed examination of fine details such as faded and worn inscriptions. It has been a revelation for the research team. Some examples of their work can be browsed at: http://www.hpl.hp.com/research/ptm/antikythera_mechanism/index.html

During October 2005, another team of specialists from the cutting-edge company, X-Tek Systems, came to Athens. Led by the company's pioneering proprietor, Roger Hadland, the group of experts consisted of David Bate, Andrew Ramsey, Martin Allen, Alan Crawley and Peter Hockley. Their aim was to use the very latest x-ray technology to look at the internal structure of the mechanism with its complex and confusing gear trains. With them they brought the prototype of a very powerful new x-ray machine, the eight-tonne «Bladerunner». Originally designed to search for minute cracks in Νturbine blades, this machine gives astonishingly detailed three-dimensional x-rays, using the latest «microfocus» x-ray techniques. It has opened a remarkable window on microscopic internal details of inscriptions and gearing at a resolution better than a tenth of a millimeter. Inscriptions can now be read that have not been seen for more than two thousand years and this is helping to build a comprehensive picture of the functions of the Antikythera Mechanism. Some of the initial images from the Blade Runner can beseen at this address: http://www.xtekxray.com/antikythera.htm

This is work-in-progress and results are emerging on a weekly basis as the data is analyzed. Within a few months, when the results have been checked and collated, more information on the ongoing research will be released here. For the future, the Antikythera Mechanism Research Project is planning a major conference in Athens in the autumn of 2006 to present their research findings. These results promise to open a new chapter in the understanding of this extraordinary mechanism.

Greek text found on «oldest astronomy computer».

The size of a shoebox, a mysterious bronze device scooped out of a Roman-era shipwreck at the dawn of the 20th century has baffled scientists for years. Now a British researcher has stunningly established it as the world's oldest surviving astronomy computer.

A team of Greek and British scientists probing the secrets of the Antikythera Mechanism has managed to decipher ancient Greek inscriptions unseen for over 2,000 years, members of the project say. «Part of the text on the machine, over 1,000 characters, had already been deciphered, but we have succeeded in doubling this total, » said physician Yiannis Bitsakis, part of a multi-disciplinary team of researchers from universities in Athens, Salonika and Cardiff, the Athens National Archaeological Museum and the Hewlett-Packard company. «We have now deciphered 95% of the text, » he said. Scooped out of a Roman shipwreck located in 1900 by sponge divers near the southern Greek island of Antikythera, and kept at the Athens National Archaeological Museum, the Mechanism contains over 30 bronze wheels and dials, and is covered in astronomical inscriptions. Probably operated by crank, it survives in three main pieces and some smaller fragments. «(The device) could calculate the position of certain stars, at least the Sun and Moon, and perhaps predict astronomical phenomena, » said astrophysicist Xenophon Moussas of Athens University. «It was probably rare, if not unique, » he added.

The rarity of the Antikythera Mechanism precluded its removal from the museum, so an eight-tonne «body scanner» had to be assembled on-site for the privately-funded project, which used three-dimensional tomography to expose the unseen inscriptions.

The first appraisal of the Mechanism's purpose was put forward in the 1960s by British science historian Derek Price, but the scientists' latest discovery raises more questions. «It is a puzzle concerning astronomical and mathematical knowledge in antiquity, » said Moussas. «The Mechanism could actually rewrite certain chapters in this area. »

«The challenge is to place this device into a scientific context, as it comes almost out of nowhere... and flies in the face of established theory that considers the ancient Greeks were lacking in applied technical knowledge, » adds Bitsakis, also of Athens University.

The researchers are also looking at the broader remains of the Roman ship – (believed to have sunk around 80 BC) – for clues to the Mechanism's origin .

One theory under examination is that the device was created in an academy founded by the ancient Stoic philosopher Poseidonios on the Greek island of Rhodes.

The writings of 1st-century AD Roman orator and philosopher Cicero – (himself a former student of Poseidonios) – cite a device with similarities to the Mechanism. «Like Alexandria, Rhodes was a great centre of astronomy at the time, » said Moussas. «The boat where the device was discovered could have been part of a convoy to Rome, bearing treasure looted from the island for the purpose of a triumph parade staged by Julius Caesar. » The new findings are to be discussed at an international congress (www.antikythera-mechanism.gr) scheduled to be held in Athens in November.

Sources: antikythera-mechanism.gr - tganews.com