Linking the Ancient and the Modern Worlds through a Remarkable Astronomical Mechanism
932487
The "Antikythera Mechanism" has baffled archeologists and scientists for more than a century. Discovered in an ancient Greek shipwreck in 1901 near the Greek island of Antikythera, between Kythera and Crete, it is the first known mechanical computer in human history. It is rumored to have been used to calculate astronomical positions, and probably dates to the first century before the Common Era (BCE).

The "Antikythera Mechanism" was remarkable in that its many gears betray a complexity not found elsewhere in the ancient Mediterranean world. Not until the high Medieval era would technological artifacts of similar complexity be found. With more than 30 gears, there is some difference of opinion on the number, it had the potential to enter a date and the mechanism could calculate the position of the Sun, Moon, or the other planets. It also had the capability to predict lunar and solar eclipses.

Jo Marchant, a well-known journalist and the editor of "New Scientist," has written a fascinating account of the discovery of this remarkable relic, its reconstruction, and the process of discovery of scientists gradually coming to understand its use. Made of bronze and found in pieces on the sea floor, it took considerable time to put it back together and to get it to work.

Hundreds of scholars have investigated the "Antikythera Mechanism," and employed high-technology analysis to understand the artifact. Even so, it took a century to unlock its secrets. Michael Wright, curator at the Science Museum in London, worked for more than two decades to build a working model of the artifact, using only tools and methods known to have been available in ancient Greece. Roger Hadland, an engineering entrepreneur, invested heavily to develop high-technology instruments, including a special X-ray machine, to image the object. These and others contributed to a long-term effort to learn the nature of this remarkable ancient machine.

Part detective story as well as a record of remarkable and diligent scientific investigation, "Decoding the Heavens" is a wonderfully researched and written exploration of efforts in the modern era to learn more about activities of the ancient world.
1450075
Invoking astronomically based weights and measures from the distant past the authors have implied a sophisticated civilization before 5000 BCE. A refreshingly thoughtful and humble alternative history tome.
4269045
This is not a book I would have chosen for myself, but I'm very glad someone lent it to me.  A fairly slim volume, with large type and well-spaced lines, I knocked it over on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
Due to the large numbers of people dying at sea simply because they banged into rocks they thought were miles away, in 17th century England a committee was set up to award a prize to the person who could come up with a way for sailors to easily determine their longitude to within half a degree - apparently determining latitude is relatively simple.  The prize of 20,000 pounds offered was substantial; probably closer to $1,000,000 in todays' terms, so all sorts of weird and wacky ideas were put forward - in fact, the committee didn't even convene for many years, with most ideas rejected by members acting alone.  The committee survived for over 100 years; possible because it was made up of incumbents of esteemed positions, e.g. the Astronomer Royal, the mathematics professors at Oxford, etc.  Some pretty illustrious people filled those positions over that time (Halley, of comet fame, for instance) and not all of them were impartial - some wanted to win the prize themselves.
Navigation by the stars is a romantic notion, but in those days, mariners could only determine their position with any accuracy on cloudless nights.  How could they find their way in the daytime or in storms, especially if they had to rely on observing of the moons of Jupiter to make their calculations?  Even if the sea was calm enough to allow them to take the necessary sightings, the calculations took seven or eight hours to resolve (by which time they could be dashed against an unexpected rock).  With GPS, modern navigation must be a cakewalk!
John Harrison, a man of humble origins, was a self-taught clockmaker who knew that accurate timekeeping was the way to go.  A carpenter by trade, his understanding of the properties of various woods enabled him to make highly accurate clocks with self-lubricating frictionless WOODEN parts that still run today!  This man was certainly a genius, and the single-minded determination with which he pursued the longitude prize is admirable, especially in the face of the opposition of a committee which seemed to be determined to allow only a celestial method to win the prize.  Until Harrison's breakthrough designs, clocks were notoriously inaccurate while the heavens were constant, so a committee heavily weighted by astronomers and mathematicians were hard to convince.  Harrison's clocks were put through extraordinary testing, with the committee determined not to award him the prize until the King himself intervened and took part in one of the trials.  Even then, as a very old man, he only received part of the prize (along with a special payment) and the rest was still unawarded when the committee disbanded.
Three of the four sea-going clocks Harrison invented in the 1700's still run and keep astoundingly accurate time, despite the dreadful treatment they endured.  The prize winner, made in a different way and susceptible to wear, is too precious to run but, with the others, is on display in England.  I wish I'd known about them when I lived there.  The edition I read had no pictures, but it contained a bookmark with pictures of each of the clocks, although you get no idea of their relative size.
I found this book very disjointed, and perhaps because she was not intending to write a technical treatise, I found the author sometimes tended to oversimplify, sometimes was downright chatty, and other times was very judgemental.  The topic, however, is so fascinating that it is worth reading if you have any interest whatsoever in navigation, horology, or genius.
1799697
I enjoyed this book. Most other books on the history of science that Ive read look at ancient history in the context of what was known then. In this book, author Demetris Nicolaides looks at ancient science in the light of what we know now. He draws connections between ancient and modern thinking on relativity and quantum mechanics. Actually, his explanations of both these areas are good. It makes for interesting reading but sometimes the book gets bogged down in excess philosophy. Nonetheless I recommend this book for anyone interested in the history of science.
4175177
This was an absolutely fascinating book that was written clearly enough for even me to follow and learn lots of interesting aspects of the history  the recent history  of physics quest to understand everything. I realize this is already fifteen years old and there probably have been many startling new revelations that will add to what this book covers but that will be the task for newer books on the subject. At least now I feel much better prepared to work my way through those. I especially loved learning about Gravitational Lensing  but the way discoveries, and new and better telescopes have led to better measurements of the mass of the universe, prompting theories regarding dark matter, and dark energy, have all been helpful. Now when I look at the stars I have lots more to think about.
852077
Astrophysicist Brophy has focused his considerable scientific background and research skills to demonstrate that a 17,000-year-old culture that lived in what is now the western desert of Egypt knew precise data about our galaxy. Analizing a recent archaeological find at the site of Nabta Playa (radio carbon dated to as early as 10,000 BC), he demonstrates that finely carved stones and engraved bedrock contained specific coordinates of stars as early as 16,500 BC. They also contained accurate information on the configuration of our Milky Way with the exact position of our Sun and the galactic center as of 17,430 BC. A valuable scientific detective story that confirms very ancient prehistoric human knowledge.
4845017
I'm glad I made this purchase. Very interesting and compelling read.  Like most books,  I found brief stretches that didn't hold my interest but I read 'em nonetheless - just in case.  But then the author immediately covers issues and events that are quite riveting,  We think we're so smart today with our designer jeans and striped toothpaste but the ancients were far more intelligent and advanced in mathematics, astronomy, astrology, engineering and other disciplines than we give them credit for.  Scholars have still not figured out precisely for example, how the pyramids were built. On this latter topic,  Edward Leedskalnin, the Estoniam immigrant who single-handedly built the Coral Castle in Homestead, Fl  claimed before his passing that he had discovered the secret of the pyramids. Many scholars agree.  But that's a whole other read.

Preston Peet:  Good work!
4725931
Most people would not have heard of the Antikythera Mechanism - it is a 2000 year old device which was discovered in 1900 in an ancient ship wreck close to the island of Antikythera between Cape Malea and Crete in the Mediterranean. The device was so much damaged and in many fragments of corroded lumps that  it could be fully deciphered only recently using the latest microfocus X-ray imaging and computed tomography (CT). We now understand that it was meant to be used as complex scientific calculator (or an analog computer) for calculating astronomical positions.

In a fascinating story written more like a detective novel, Jo Marchant takes us through the discovery of this device from the ship wreck by sponge divers, the early futile attempts in figuring out what the device was, the years it spent in anonymity in the Athens archeological museum, the laborious  efforts by some scientists in the last few decades who figured out parts of it, and the final culmination of its near complete understanding by 2008 when better technologies were available.

Written very well, with simple and clear explanations of the basic science involved the author is able to bring out clearly the trials and tribulations involved in scientific research. In addition, the author succeeds in bringing out the excitement of solving a mystery and educating the reader of the gap in our understanding of the progress made by the ancient greek scientists two thousand years ago. The Antikythera Mechanism not only proves that complex geared mechanisms existed (till recently thought be invented in the 18th century) then but also that they were in rather common use because of the detailed instructions provided in the device for enabling its operation by the layman.

I also very much liked the author's attempt to figure out who in the ancient greek world would have devised such a mechanism and how it could have ended in the ship wreck. The logic as well as the detailed research makes the book a pleasure to read.
2514009
With reference to the concept of Atlantis, never has so much drivel been written with reference to a relatively easily explained event.  Most of it is ordinary garden fertilizer composed of supposition, unsupportable hypotheses, and outright fantasy.  This book is not of that genre, and is highly recommended to the SERIOUS student of archeology.

Simply put, it is painfully clear that the tale of Atlantis has its origin in a Krakatoan-style Bronze Age eruption of the Thera (Santorini) volcano in the Cyclades volcanic island arc in the Southern Aegean Sea.  This event took place somewhere between 3,450 and 3,650 years ago.  The eruption was extremely violent, causing huge tsunamis and tremendous amounts of volcanic ashfall.  The eruptiont utterly anninhilated the  habitable nature of the volcanic island and left a huge, deep, water-filled caldera in its place.  The volcano is still actice and has formed a new island in the center of the caldera's bay.  Excellent black and white photos depict 20th century activity.

The book's text is well-written, well-organized, and easily understood.  After reviewing the geology of the area, the authors show the nature of the Minoan civilization on Crete that was destroyed by the eruption and its after effects.  One of the most interesting facets of the book is the discussion of Akrotiri, a city on Thera Island that was buried by  ashfall from the eruption.  The city is well preserved, and the photographs of the site, and the artifacts found there, are truly remarkable.  It appears thaat the volcano gave considerable waarning of the impending cataclysm, since no skeletons or truly pried possessions have been found.

The authors present their case in a non-argumentative fashion, relying on demonstrative evidence, and skillfully interweave their finding with Plato's tale of Atlantis given some 900 years later.  Any objective reader cannot be other than convinced that the so-called "riddle" of Atlantis has been solved without undue strain, or reliance on the wholly incredible.

The only consideration keeping the book from a five-star rating is its age, since it was published in 1969.  Of course, much more information about the events discussed above has since been found.  However, none of the subsequent discoveries have called the text of this book into question  Instead, they have only reinforced it.

This book will show you what was Atlantis, how it was destroyed and how the myths arose.  It will disprove the "theories" about Atlantis being in Bimini, Japan, Wisconsin, and Lord only knows where else.  The reader of this book will get the unvarnished truth and be well-informed on an ancient geological ctastrophe that affects us even today.  Finally, the reader will enjoy reaching that status.

The book is no longer published, but it is one of the best bargains you will ever get off a used book list.  Buy it, enjoy it, and don't loan it out.
593969
We have all seen a complainer, protecting his ego, while receiving a gold platter, yet criticizing it's luster, it late delivery, or other distracting collateral. Thus I differ from detractors of Susan Brind Morrow. If someone wants site archeology they should buy such a book, if they want mind splitting insight on the Egyptian mind, they should buy The Dawning Moon of the Mind."

Her well-titled new publication, "The Dawning Moon of the Mind" completes a cycle begun over 4000 years ago by Egyptian thinkers---a contemplation on life, death, and the universe---to which she brings her brilliant archeologist's and linguist's insight in a closely examined analysis of some of the oldest hieroglyphics on earth, bringing them back to life as the coded language revealing thrilling insights to human existence as held by those alive at the time.  Should humans survive our 21st Century bestial degradation, imagine 4000 years forward, the year on earth at say, 6016, during which archeologists, linguists, and poets contemplate the language they called English. Their interpretation are likely to be laughable, as have been those done by Sir Alan Gardiner, poor James P Allen and other established "authorities" of Eqyptian times.

Susan Brind Morrow is a scientist, who instead of merely leaning on academics, engages her genius to reveal the "gold platter" is all its luster. It's apparent she is working in a different league than the others, is combining what is, with her profound linguistic intelligence, and bringing back to 21st century readers a rare trove of insight. Morrow is not afraid to use one of humans highest tools, the mind of poetry, as an excavationary tool. If you differ, dip into Dr. Leonard Shlain's Art And Physics.
1626227
We often cite the invention of the wheel as one of humankind's most basic discoveries, since it occurred relatively early in human history and is fundamental to so much of our technology. Yet, most of us have no real idea of when or where the wheel was actually invented and how it came to be used in transportation.

While the potter's wheel appears to be the earliest use of some form of wheel, the earliest of these didn't actually pivot the wheel on an axle. The first use of axle-pivoted wheels appears to have been on a peculiar two-wheeled "chariot" in the region of what is now Kazakhstan in central Asia nearly three thousand years ago. From there, the concept of wheeled transport spread east to China, where it appears as a two-wheeled chariot only 1-200 years later, and south to Babylonia, where it shows up as a four-wheeled war wagon drawn by asses painted on the side of a 2800 year old harp. (Interestingly, when I researched the domestication and spread of horses, their use follows almost exactly the same timeline and geographical distribution.)

The book goes on to show the spread of wheeled vehicles throughout the world, with the development of improvements such as the spoked wheel, systems for pivoting the axle so that the vehicle can make turns and methods for cushioning the ride to make it easier on passengers. It continues on through the development of motor vehicles, up to the present, all with clear diagrams and pictures.

This book provides a fascinating survey of the history of an invention that surrounds us every day, one basic to all of our technology and yet, one we take for granted. The idea of running a pole through the middle of two round slabs of wood, with a box on top for passengers or cargo, seems simple and obvious to us now, yet it's only been around for about the last 5,000 years. I salute the anonymous genius in Kazakhstan who came up with the idea! We owe him (or her?) a profound debt of gratitude.
3848144
This translation of an important Byzantine document, first uncovered by the great astronomy historian Otto Neugebauer from Vatican sources, gives us insight into the contributions made by Byzantine astronomers to cosmological theory.  It produces evidence that in addition to preserving the ideas of Ptolemy and Islamic contribitors such as al-Tusi, the Byzantines added their own modifications to this corpus.  The authors of this translation and commentary suggest that the original document made its way to Italy and may even have influenced Copernicus, who spoke Greek and traveled in Italy.  Although this book is somewhat technical with its formulae and epicycles, the more casual reader can skim through these and still get the point.  Also, the side-by-side photos of the original text and illustrations with clear schematics next to them, and the translations of their content, will appeal to the more visually-oriented reader.  It is exciting to see an original 13th Century document opened up before one's eyes!
4337700
A brilliant book with a strong authors voice, stunning illustrated and well referenced.
This fine offering has a depth and breadth, of knowledge, rarely seen compiled in the one work.
The full spectrum, from current hard scientific evidence to ancient mythology, the occult and more, are all covered in detail.
Recommended for the serious student of the alternative and as a mischievous addition for any mainstream astronomy collection.
2371519
This book starts out slow, but it has to, there is a lot of ground to cover. What is covered is simply a rather complete discussion of celestial navigation through time. And how that clear , simple and concise system was somehow lost to us. The Cross of Thoth is easier to use than an Octant, Sextant, or most other devices of navigation. Its existense adds more possibilities to the argument that global exploration occured at a far earlier age and with better or at least equal instruments to the best we have today. In any event certainly adequate for world wide travel. The argument presented in the book as to the determinaiton of longitude is hardly new, and fraught with danger of mistake, but possible, if excercised with great care. I ordered the DVD too and enjoyed it. it allows me to share the concepts with others while we watch the DVD at the same time. Read this book and discussions on plasma and electromagnetic energy dominating Interstellar spacethe "Electric Universe" and you will waste not a moment more on anything a modern astronomer has to say. This book is THAT seminal in importance to an understanding of the intersection of religion, science, and navigation and a host of other branches of knowledge. A lot of "Ah ha's" happen while reading this book.
3272334
Our understanding of the universe is shaped by observational cosmology and astrophysics, which are, in turn, shaped by socio-political and economic concerns. This book explores the history and analyzes the processes and forces that influenced the twentieth-century advances in the astronomical sciences, including theories and theorists.

This text is very accessible and well-illustrated and is interesting reading not only for scientists but for academicians, historians, sociologists, economists, &c. It is a truly interdisciplinary look at how science works.
2818674
This work is provocative both in its astrobiological perspective and its challenge to assumption that the evolution of life is one simple process. That simple life might be common, and complex life very rare, is a new twist to the enigma of life's genesis.  The work highlights the puzzle of the Cambrian, now including, by hypothesis, an invisible period just before and leading up to it, which clarifies its passage into the realm naturalism from the presumptions of Creationists but without providing as yet the explanation, which is not so easily left at the doorstep of geological or external environmental explanation. The appearance of so many complex animal body plans so near the beginning of the rise planetary life as we know it is a reminder that we are missing something still in our theories of evolution. It is often insufficiently clear in accounts of this subject just how much internal organization there is in this high level beginnng period and how far the later period of the evolutionary processes to come are from matching this threshold of the coming beast.
1393962
I finally saw David Brown's book on Mesopotamian Planetary
Astronomy-Astrology in a library today.  His categorization and
identification of the planet names is very impressive work, requiring
time-consuming investigation.

I was happy to see the original work that he has done.  It should clear up a lot of confusion for future scholars dealing with the Babylonian
astrological/astronomical texts.