[MR] Possible navigational computer from ancient Greece

[Jim Layne]

Very informative article. I'm not sure it should be
called a navigational computer, unless I'm missing
something subtle, which is a possibility. From the
description, the hypothesis is that the device could
have shown the positions of the Earth, moon and the
other known planets at the time of construction. In
itself that is an amazing feat. I'm not sure how this
would tell a navigator what his lattitude or longitude
was though. Knowing where a particular planet is in
the sky doesnt help the navigator know where he is in
relation to it. At least not with this machine alone.

It's possible my studies of lattitude sailing by the
Norse have permanently corrupted me, so if someone
knows what I am not seeing here, please enlighten me.

Again, nice article, Thank you. If this device had
been offered for sale at Birka 9 hundred years later,
and some enterprising arab found a way to use it to
keep accurate time at sea, I would be writing this
letter from NORSEamerica! <g>

James of Storvik

--- Sharon Gordon <gordonse at one.net> wrote:
> This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
> --
> [ Picked text/plain from multipart/alternative ]
>
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=1337165
>
> There is also a reference to a reconstruction of it.
>
> Sharon
> gordonse at one.net
> --
>
>
========================================================================
>                    The Merry Rose Tavern at
> Cheapside
>     List Info: http://merryrose.atlantia.sca.org/
>   Submissions: Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
> Subscriptions:
http://seahorse.atlantia.sca.org/mailman/listinfo/atlantia


__________________________________________________
Do you Yahoo!?
Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More
http://faith.yahoo.com