{"id":9771,"date":"2023-11-15T06:50:20","date_gmt":"2023-11-15T05:50:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/?p=9771"},"modified":"2023-11-15T06:50:20","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T05:50:20","slug":"what-was-the-astrological-computer-used-in-ancient-rome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.learnancientrome.com\/what-was-the-astrological-computer-used-in-ancient-rome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Was The Astrological Computer Used In Ancient Rome"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In ancient Rome, astrology drove the daily lives of the people, which was why they developed an astrological computer, known as the Antikythera Mechanism. This device was used to calculate the positions of the planets and stars so that people could predict the future and create calendars to organize the days of the year. It is thought that it was invented in the 1st century BCE and was used until the 4th century CE. The original device is lost, but several replica versions have been created to demonstrate how it works.<\/p>\n

The Antikythera Mechanism is believed to be the earliest calculator of its kind, and it showed remarkable sophistication given its time period. It was made of bronze with a wooden frame and was driven by several gears. It was able to calculate lunar, solar and planetary positions and phases. It was also equipped with adjustable dials that served as the main mechanism to set dates and time. It is thought that it may have been used to track the movement of the planets in relation to the stars in order to predict future astronomical events.<\/p>\n

The Antikythera Mechanism was first discovered by archaeologists during an underwater excavation in 1901. The remains of the device were brought to the National Archaeological Museum of Athens, where it is still kept today. From its discovery until the present day, researchers have studied its inner workings and have been able to determine how it worked. This has enabled experts to create exact copies of the device.<\/p>\n

In 2006, a research team from the University of Athens created their version of the astrological computer, which was able to accurately predict eclipse cycles, astrological conjunctions and the movements of the planets. They concluded that the mechanism was a complex device that not only calculated astrological phenomena but also functioned to calculate the positions of planets, stars, and the sun. This allowed the ancient Romans to accurately predict future astronomical events.<\/p>\n