These Astronomical Clocks Were a Wonder of the Medieval World

Vincze Miklós

12/16/13 6:53pm

Advanced Imaging Reveals a Computer 1,500 Years Ahead of Its Time

Ed Grabianowski

1/08/10 10:00am

Illustration for article titled Advanced Imaging Reveals a Computer 1,500 Years Ahead of Its Time

X-rays and advanced photography have uncovered the true complexity of the mysterious Antikythera mechanism, a device so astonishing that its discovery is like finding a functional Buick in medieval Europe.

In 1900, some divers found the wreck of a Roman vessel off the Greek island of Antikythera. Among the other treasures remanded to the Greek government was an unassuming corroded lump. Some time later, the lump fell apart, revealing a damaged machine of unknown purpose, with some large gears and many smaller cogs, plus a few engraved words in Greek. Early studies suggested it was some type of astronomical time-keeping device – researcher Derek J. de Solla Price laid the groundwork by establishing initial tooth counts and suggesting that the device followed the Metonic cycle, a 235-month pattern commonly used to predict eclipses in the ancient world.

The full function and beauty of the Antikythera device remained hidden until recent studies subjected it to more advanced imaging techniques. First, it was photographed using a technique that exposed the surfaces to varying lighting patterns. This created different levels of contrast that allowed the researchers to read far more of the inscribed Greek text than was previously possible. Then, x-ray imaging was used to create full 3-D computer models of the mechanism, which revealed for the first time some of the more complex and detailed gear interactions. The Greek National Archaeological Museum’s discovery of some boxes filled with 82 additional mechanism fragments added new information as well.

The findings, published in Nature, are probably best described as “mind blowing.” Devices with this level of complexity were not seen again for almost 1,500 years, and the Antikythera mechanism’s compactness actually bests the later designs. Probably built around 150 B.C., the Antikythera mechanism can perform a number of functions just by turning a crank on the side.

Using nothing but an ingenious system of gears, the mechanism could be used to predict the month, day and hour of an eclipse, and even accounted for leap years. It could also predict the positions of the sun and moon against the zodiac, and has a gear train that turns a black and white stone to show the moon’s phase on a given date. It is possible that it could also show the astronomical positions of the planets known to the ancients: Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn.

The Antikythera mechanism wasn’t just a scientific tool – it also had a social purpose. The Greeks held major athletic competitions (such as the Olympics) every two or four years. A small dial within the Metonic dial showed the dates of these important events.

The true genius of the mechanism goes beyond even the complex calculations and craftsmanship of a mechanical calendar. For example, the ancients didn’t know that the moon has an elliptical orbit, so they didn’t know why it sometimes slowed or sped up as it moved through the zodiac. The mechanism’s creator used epicyclic gears, also known as planetary gears, with a “pin-and-slot” mechanism that mimicked this apparent shifting in the moon’s movement. This use of epicyclic gears is far ahead of what anyone suspected ancient technology was capable of. Scientific American has a two-part video about the mechanism and the imaging techniques used in the research.

The mystery of who built the Antikythera mechanism remains. It has been linked to renowned ancient inventor Archimedes by the writings of Cicero, but this particular device was built after Archimedes’ death. Still, the engraved words revealed by the new photos pinpoint the device’s origin to Corinth, or possibly Corinthian colonies. Sicily was such a colony, and the Sicilian city of Syracuse was Archimedes’ headquarters. The researchers theorize that the Antikythera mechanism is based on an Archimedian design, and might even have been built by a workshop carrying on his technological tradition. But if the design has been “industrialized” in such a way, why have we never found another one like it? Mysteries remain.

The complexity of the mechanism shows that ancient humans were capable of intellectual and engineering feats that boggle our modern minds (and it puts the lie to all those “ancient astronaut” theories). The upheavals of war and natural disasters over 2,000 years have probably caused us to lose many more works and wonders that will never be found.

[Scientific American].

Decoding an Ancient Computer:
Greek Technology Tracked the Heavens

New explorations have revealed how the Antikythera mechanism modeled lunar motion and predicted eclipses, among other sophisticated tricks

“Antikythera mechanisms were seen as a route to understanding and demonstrating the nature of the universe – a way to get closer to the true meaning of things.
To what better use could technology be put?”

The Horologium miracle Lundense in Lund, Sweden constructed in 1380s, moved into storage in 1837, but restored and put back in 1923.

Horologium mirabile Lundense in Lund, Sweden

The astronomical clock in the Lund Cathedral known as Horologium Mirabile Lundense is a magnificent artistic structure but also contains surprisingly precise and modern pieces of engineering that were hidden in storage for almost a hundred years.

The Lund Cathedral itself was built in the mid 12th century, but the elegant astronomical clock was not first installed until 1387. The elaborate piece of machinery stood proudly in the cathedral for hundreds of years it was dismantled in 1837 and placed into storage. The historic time piece, which in addition to simply telling the time of day could predict a number of religious holidays and the days they would fall on in the future, was finally put back together and restored to its rightful place in the cathedral in 1923.

Today the clock once again clicks along, displaying all of the original features such as a pair of knights that mark the hours, between which is the figure of Saint Lawrence, the cathedral’s patron saint. When the clock was reassembled, the astronomical marking backing card was updated to be accurate from 1923 to 2123 at which point a new reference will have to be installed, although at that point it will likely be a hologram.

IN WATER

Horologium mirabile Lundense – The Astronomical Clock

“I can easily conceive, most Holy Father,
that as soon as some people learn that in this book
which I have written concerning the revolutions of the heavenly bodies,
I ascribe certain motions to the earth,
they will cry out at once that I and my theory should be rejected.”

“At rest , however, in the middle of everything is the sun.”
Nicolaus Copernicus
(1473 – 1543)

The astronomical clock of Lund Cathedral, Lund, Sweden, the Horologium Mirabile Lundense, was constructed c. 1380. After having been in storage since 1837, it was restored and put back in place in 1923. On top of the clock, there are two knights that mark the hours. The upper board of the clock is the astronomical clock. It shows, among other things, the different phases of the Moon and where the Sunsets.

The lower board of the clock is a calendar. With the help of it one can, among other things, calculate when different mobile religious holidays will fall and on which weekday a certain date will fall. In the middle of the calendar stands Saint Lawrence, the Patron Saint of the Cathedral, and by his side the Symbols of the Four Evangelists.

The present board of the clock goes from 1923 to 2123, after that a new one must be obtained so that the clock can be used. The Earth is not the center of the universe.

Nicolaus Copernicus (1473 – 1543) was a Renaissance astronomer who formulated a heliocentric model of the Universe which placed the Sun, rather than the Earth, at the center.

When Copernicus proposed that the Earth and other planets orbit the Sun, his contemporaries found his theories absurd. It would take several generations to sink in. Very few scholars saw it as a real description of the universe.

Galileo Galilei (1564 – 1642) used a telescope to provide evidence for the heliocentric theory, and some of his contemporaries were so disturbed by what the new invention revealed (craters on a supposedly perfectly spherical moon, other moons circling Jupiter) that they refused to look through the device. More dangerous than defying common sense, though, was Galileo’s defiance of the Catholic Church. Scripture said that the Sun revolved around the Earth, and the Holy Office of the Inquisition found Galileo guilty of heresy for saying otherwise.

The upper board is the astronomical clock and the lower is the calendar that could help to calculate when mobile religious holidays will fall, among others.

A Calendar that uses the ROMAN GODS to name the months. And Honors SOL INVICTUS as the CENTER OF EVERYTHING.

Illustration for article titled These Astronomical Clocks Were a Wonder of the Medieval World

(via mararie, Anna T, Lorella Gambusera and Mélisande)

The Wells Cathedral Clock in Wells, England. Its mechanism was made in the late 1380s or early 1390s, but was replaced in the 19th century and moved to a museum, where it still operates.

One of several astronomical clocks constructed from the 14th through the 16th century in the West of England, the Clock at Wells Cathedral, Somerset, is rather legendary. As the cathedral website notes, it’s the second oldest still-in-use clock mechanism in Britain, and likely the world, to survive in its original condition. Dating back to circa 1390, the interior clock face is the “oldest surviving original of its kind anywhere.” (The original, still-operating mechanisms are now housed in a museum). Age aside, one of the geocentric clock’s most notable characteristics is that it has both interior and exterior dials— that is, there are distinct clock faces viewable from both the interior of the cathedral and from the exterior — the latter was constructed roughly 70 years later but is operated by the same mechanism. Source: Wells Cathedral Clock, Wells England

Wells Cathedral – History, tourist information, and nearby accommodation

BY DAVID ROSS, EDITOR

MECHANICAL CLOCK

High on the west wall of the north transept is one of the most popular and endearing attractions of Wells Cathedral; a 14th-century astronomical clock thought to be the second oldest mechanical clock in Europe. Each quarter hour an amusing little character called Jack Blandifers emerges from within the clock and strikes two bells with hammers, then two with his heels. When the bells strike, a pair of jousting knights emerge above the clock face.

The clock face is astronomical, marked with phases of the moon and the time since the last full moon, in addition to a full 24-hour dial. It shows the Earth at the centre, with the Sun and Moon revolving around it. The mechanism was built between 1386-1392, and while the clock face is original, the mechanism was replaced in the Victorian period and preserved in the Science Museum in London, where it continues to function.

The same mechanism that drives the astronomical clock also drives a clock on the exterior wall. The exterior clock is a relative newcomer, built 70 years after the interior clock. The external clock has a pair of quarter-jacks in the shape of armoured knights.

The mechanical clock

SOUTH TRANSEPT CARVINGS

One of the delights of Wells is the marvelous carvings that adorn the column capitals. These are at their finest and most accessible in the south transept. One shows a man in the grips of a horrible toothache, another shows workers in a vineyard, another depicts a lizard eating berries.

The most famous of the carvings is a sequence called The Wages of Sin that decorates a large clustered pier like a cartoon strip. This sequence shows miscreants breaking into an orchard to steal fruit, being caught by the farmer, and beaten mercilessly.

The dial of the inside clock shows the geocentric view of the universe, where the Earth is in the centre and Sun moves around that. The Sun is really moving on the clock face. It takes 24 hours to go around.

Turismo Roma

@Turismoromaweb

The clock giving the name to the delightful square (piazza dell’Orologio), located between via dei Banchi Nuovi and via del Governo Vecchio, was placed on the tower of the Filippini convent built by Francesco Borromini in 1648.

by pierpaologr via IG #Istayhome

Turismo Roma

@Turismoromaweb

L’orologio che dà il nome alla deliziosa piazza,

spacer

(via Fr Lawrence Lew, O. P, Caroline, Ruth Flickr and David Fisher)

The Gros Horloge in Rouen, Normandy, France. The movement was made by Jourdain del Leche and Jean de Felain in 1389. A facade was added in 1529 after the movement’s moving to its current place.

nFRANCE

IN SEARCH OF RENAISSANCE FRANCE: LE GROS HORLOGE OF ROUEN

Le Gros Horloge, Rouen, Normandy, France

For close to 700 years, the people of Rouen have been able to quite literally run their businesses like clockwork thanks to the very public Gros Horloge of Rouen. When searching for hints of the Renaissance in France, you never have to look very far… Glittering and golden, you’d be forgiven for thinking that le Gros Horloge of Rouen is a modern-day installation. However, this clock is not contemporary at all, but in fact, contains one of the oldest mechanisms in all of France.

Literally translated as ‘the Great Clock‘ in English, Le Gros Horloge of Rouen sits in pride of place in the very heart of this medieval city. Set amidst a forest of half timber-framed houses it’s situated halfway along the main pedestrian walkway that cuts through the very centre of Rouen. The Clock is also located just a short distance from the gothic Rouen Cathedral. A little further down the street is the site where many historians believe Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

History of the Astronomical Clock

The movement of the clock dates all the way back to 1389, just 19 years later than the oldest clock in Paris (situated in the very heart of Île de la Cité), while the Renaissance Arch it rests in dates back to 1527. The buildings surrounding the clock, including a Belfry all date back to the 14th and 15th Centuries. All in all, the clock is very in keeping with the rest of the city of Rouen, which in itself is a beautiful blend of Renaissance meets Medieval.

So inspiring is the clock of Rouen, that it has been drawn, painted and written about ever since it was first installed in the 15th-Century. Even iconic artist J.M.W Turner himself was inspired by the clock on a trip to Rouen. He painted the grand clock in the 1700s on a trip to the already iconic city.

The Gros Horloge at Rouen, Normandy c.1832 Joseph Mallord William Turner 1775-1851 Via Wikimedia

Details of the Rouen Clock

A little lamb jumps through time and is situated at the end of the hour hand, which spans an impressive 2.5 metres long. The sheep is not only a traditionally religious symbol in Christianity but a reflection of Rouen’s main historical industry of farming- particularly in the wool trade. The astronomical clock also displays the moon phases (a full rotation takes 29 days), as well as days of the week (represented by Roman gods and the planets). Below, you’ll find images of the West and East faces, one below the other respectively.

Visit the Gros Horloge of Rouen

The clock was heavily restored in 2006, restoring the astronomical clock to its former shining glory. Although the 14th-Century mechanism is still in perfect working order, it has been operating through electricity since the 1920s.

And you don’t have to just admire the clock from the outside. Instead, you can partake in audio-guided tours throughout the year at various times of the year. Tours through the museum (comprising of the belfry, plenty of history about Rouen and beautiful panoramic views of the cathedral) last approximately 45 minutes. In the museum, you’ll also find the clockmaker’s workshop, the bells, and weights of the historic clock.

AboutSOPHIE NADEAU

Sophie Nadeau loves dogs, books, Paris, pizza, and history, though not necessarily in that order. A fan of all things France related, she runs www.solosophie.com when she’s not chasing after the next sunset shot or consuming her weight in sweet food.

It shows the phases of moon in an oculus and the week days with allegorical works of art at the base. The whole mechanism was electrified in the 1920s.

(via Vitold Muratov and Ytierny)

InOBSCURE PARIS/ PARIS

OLDEST CLOCK IN PARIS GIVES NEW MEANING TO ‘STANDING THE TEST OF TIME’

The oldest clock in Paris has been located in the same spot ever since it was erected in 1370. Wow, doesn’t time pass quickly…

Okay, enough poor puns! Located on the corner of an obscure side of the Conciergerie, you’d be forgiven for not even noticing the oldest clock in Paris’ presence. This is particularly because if you’re passing by it, then you’re likely rushing off to see the nearby Sainte-Chapelle!

But that’s not to say that this shining clock should be ignored… The ornate golden-gilt clock is everything that you’d expect from Medieval France. That is to say, it’s lavishly decorated with the greatest attention to detail: sumptuous colours are highlighted with oodles of gold. It even chimes precisely on the hour! It also helps that the clock was given a clean in 2012, making it seem a lot newer than its 700 years!

The home of the clock, the Conciergerie, has had a pretty interesting history too! Situated on Île de la Cité, the Conciergerie has a long and violent history. It is where Marie Antoinette was held prisoner during the french revolution before her execution. Prior to this, when the clock was actually erected, the building was the site of a French palace.

Why was the oldest clock in Paris originally installed?

First things first: the clock may or may not be the first public clock in Paris. The reason for this being is that this clock is the only one to have survived wars, revolutions and the ravages of time. There may have been others that didn’t quite manage to stand the test of time…

The clock was installed at a time when no one could afford their own clocks and wristwatches hadn’t even been invented yet, let alone mobile phones. Erected for the benefit of the public, the clock enabled Parisians to know when shops should be opened and closed.

The clock has been cleaned and restored a number of times throughout its life. The first time was in the 1500s, while its most recent clean was in . The bell that chimes isn’t original as that one was melted down during the French Revolution. Nevertheless, I’m pretty sure that it’s safe to say that in some respects, this little corner of the city has stood still for millennia!

So next time you’re wandering Île de la Cité, make sure you don’t forget to look up! Finally, the clock also isn’t far from the Gravestone Courtyard on Île de la Cité so be sure to check that out if you’re in the area…

[Tweet “Looking up at the Oldest Clock in Paris!”]

(via Wikimedia Commons and Marcio Cabral de Moura)

The Rostock astronomical clock in St. Mary’s Church, Rostock, Germany, built in 1472 by Hans Düringer.

Its calendar is valid until 2017. The clock also has an apostle-go-round performance just like the Prague one.

(via Nigel Swales, Ed Lim, Alejandro Monge, Snuffy and B. I)

St Mark’s Clock on the Piazza San Marco in Venice, Italy, built between 1496 and 1499 by Gian Paolo Rainieri and his son Gian Carlo. After two major restorations the clock mechanism was almost completely replaced in the 1750s, by Bartolomeo Ferracina.

The post of the clock-keeper was filled by the Rainieri family until 1998.

(via Torroloco and Anna Fox)

The world’s largest astronomical clock on the Torrazzo of Cremona, the oldest still standing brick structure taller than 100 m (328 ft), stands in Cremona, Italy.

The mechanism of the clock was built by Francesco and Giovan Battista Divizioli between 1583 and 1588.

(via Wikimedia Commons and ho visto nina volare)

Strasbourg astronomical clock in the Cathédrale Notre-Dame of Strasbourg, France. The actual clock was built between 1838 and 1843 by Jean-Baptiste Schwilgué who replaced the previous one from the 16th century that stood there for 50 years after stopped working in 1788.

The new clock contains probably the first perpetual mechanical Gregorian computus, designed by Schwilgué in 1816, an orrery (planetary dial) a display of the real position of the Sun and the Moon, and solar and lunar eclipses.