The Antikythera Mechanism is unique, kind of like a monotypic genus plant. In fact, this short article was originally written as the introduction for the page “Only Plant In Its Genus.” It didn’t quite fit and I also didn’t want to throw it away, thus it is here in a blog.
Said “anti-KITH-air-rah” it loosely translates into “Opposite of the Guitar.” Why? Because the nearby large island of Kythera, which has some 3,000 permanent residents, is shaped like a harp
- The dock at Antikythera
which is called a “kythera” from which we get the English word guitar. It is also where some 60,000 Greeks in Australia can claim ancesty. Small Antikythera, also known as Little Kithera, is to the southeas. It is not shaped like a harp and had only 13 permanent residents when I was there. Now it is 44. Almost no one claims ancestry there. In season the ferry stops twice a week and literally for only two or three minutes. It’s the nautical equivalent of a touch and go. The ferry backs up lowering the rear gang plank. A minute or less is spent off or on loading then the ferry pulls away gang plank still down.
From Gythio in the Mani — the main city on the eastern side of the central peninsula in southern Greece, one can sight navigate to Kythera. From Kythera you can sight navigate to Antikythera. From Antikythera you can sight navigate to the Rodopou Peninsula on Crete. In ancient days it was the main shipping lane, a route still followed by ferries and weekend sailors. Tiny Antikythera has three claims to fame: 1) An 11 Agutust 1903 8.3 earthquake that raised part of the island 20 feet, a riff easily seen today; 2) It was the home base of fort-building pirates for several hundred years before and after 0 AD; And 3) the Antikythera Mechanism.
Visible effect of the earthquake on Little Kythera
Made around 1500 BC to predict astonomical events the Antikythera Mechanism was 1,500 years ahead of its time, or, everyone else was 1,500 years behind the times. The mechanism was found by sponge divers a century ago. Were the pirates involved? The time period is right. Was the mechanism lost plunder? Did it sink unknown to the pirates? What was it doing there? Was it from the mainland heading towards points south and east, or, from the Middle East heading towards points north and west? Was technology set back 1,500 years?
Consider these islands 1,500 years ago or even today. The vegetation was sparse, and still is, mostly scrub for goats plus a few spices, thyme, marjoram, oregano, capers. Other edibles included some thistles, wild onions, and a few greens. Most food came from the sea, or robbing, the main occupation. Most of these islands have no springs. Life was harsh. Was the mechanism overlooked for a clay pot of olives, or wine? We’ll never know.
On Cyprus, a few hundred miles to the east, less than five dozens plants are used for food, including several spices. Even soil is hard to come by. In my grandfather’s village of Karea in the Mani, soil is brought in to create elevated gardens. The land is basically crushed large rocks and gravel. Foraging was, and still is a way of life there. But one has to scround to find enough to eat.
