Upon uncovering the engravings and inner workings of the Antikythera mechanism, scientists finally found evidence to support their long-held hypothesis: it was an ingenious contraption designed to forecast celestial events. Through further investigations, they managed to piece together a comprehensive model that accounted for the missing components of the device. Remarkably, this ancient machine seamlessly integrated the astronomical knowledge of ancient civilizations such as Greece, Babylon, and Egypt.

The device featured dials and hands on both its front and back surfaces. These dials provided precise information about the date, the relative movements of the Earth, moon, and sun, and the positions within the Zodiac. They also displayed the moon’s phases, compensating for irregularities caused by its elliptical orbit. Additionally, the dials tracked the movements of the five known planets at the time: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. Furthermore, they offered insights into seasonal changes, the rise and set of major constellations and specific stars, and the periodic cycles of the original Olympiads. The device even had the capability to predict solar eclipses.

The Antikythera mechanism functioned as a mechanical computer, featuring a hand crank that allowed users to manipulate the date and retrieve information about past or future celestial events. No other known artifact from this era comes close to matching the complexity of this device. Its exceptional predictive capabilities and mechanical complexity have led experts to hail it as the world’s earliest computer.