The Antikythera Mechanism: An Astronomical Calculating Machine from Ancient Greece

Conférencier/Speaker
James C Evans, University of Puget Sound


Abstract: The Antikythera mechanism, a gearwork astronomical computing machine, was built by an ancient Greek mechanic around the second century BC, lost in a shipwreck around 60 BC, and recovered in 1901. Recent study has greatly improved our comprehension of the mechanism. This talk will describe the current state of understanding of the Antikythera mechanism and will address the questions of its function and its cultural significance — why would anyone have built such a thing? The talk will also present some new evidence for the date of construction.

18 mars / March 18, 2015
19:30 / 7:30 pm

Université de Montréal
Pavillon Jean Coutu
Agora Goodman
2940, chemin de Polytechnique
Salle S1-151

Biographie/Biography

Prof. J. Evans est un physicien et un historien des sciences à l'University of Puget Sound dans l'état de Washington. Ses intérêts de recherche couvrent l'histoire de la physique depuis le XVIIIe siècle et l'astronomie de la Grèce antique. Il est l'auteur de «The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy» et le rédacteur en chef du «Journal of the History of Astronomy». Le New York Times a rapporté ses résultats récents menés avec C Carman sur le mécanisme d'Anticythère.

James Evans is a physicist and a historian of science at the University of Puget Sound. His research interests include the history of physics since the 18th century, and the astronomy of the ancient Greeks. He is the author of The History and Practice of Ancient Astronomy, and the editor of the Journal for the History of Astronomy. His work on the mechanism of Antikythera, done with C Carman, has recently been covered by the New York Times.