The NY TImes (via the Nature science journal) ran an article a few days ago about the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism, a recently discovered astronomical computer built by the ancient Greeks circa 100 B.C.
Long story short: after much studying of the device for the past two years scientists have discovered it was not only a complex astronomical tool but that it tracked the calendar of important Greek events such as the Olympic games. The NY Times originally ended their article with a question, since removed, that alluded to not understanding why Greek technology faltered not too long after this invention (around 300 A.D.) until around the 14th century. I can only assume the removed it after a few history professors emailed them and reminded them that western technology faltered during the great takeover of Christianity, when secular knowledge was suppressed by the church in favor of religious knowledge. Tony Freeth, a scientist mentioned in the Nature article, says it is “an instrument of unparalleled sophistication in antiquity, more or less unrivalled until the clockwork mechanisms of the later Middle Ages.”
The device is reportedly related to rough designs reported by the great Greek mathematician and astronomer Archimedes.
At any rate, I found the question interesting because I’ve just in the past few days finished reading a book called The Closing of the Western Mind: The Rise and Fall of Wisdom that outlined the history of the height of the Roman empire into the history around Biblical times and on through to the height of the Christian church in the empire. The first half of the book is especially engaging but if you choose to read it know the agenda is decidedly anti-religion and pro-logical thinking and sciences. The historical accounts of the writing of the Scriptures in the Bible were quite interesting and the book does present a believable theory on the church’s quelling of the ancient Roman and Greek traditions of logical reasoning. If nothing else the lack of technological, astrological and mathematical developments from the era of Roman emperor Constantine until the (eventually condemned by the church) works of Copernicus is something of interest to contemplate in the context of the Antikythera Mechanism.
