Fated Time: A Recreation of the Antikythera Mechanism
Overview
Fated Time is an interactive installation that reinterprets and reenacts the ancient Antikythera Mechanism (~100 BCE), bridging the history of technology with playful, informative, and engaging interactive experiences. It explores humanity’s enduring quest to reenact the past, predict time, and understand the cosmos - yearnings that have fueled technological advancements since antiquity. This project is in collaboration with Dr. Alexander Jones (NYU Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, Antikythera Mechanism Research Project).
Antikythera Mechanism’s 30+ gear-system coordinates multiple calendar dates to be translated into planetary alignments, making it possible to reenact where the star are at a given moment in the past or the future. Often referred to as a 2,000-year-old analog computer, AM’s possible applications include to visually aid in astrology classes and for astrological readings.
Fated Time invites the participants to get a 2000-year-old astrological reading by inputting their birthdays, and then observing both the mechanism and the cosmo at work. It offers a window into how our ancestors may have used such tools to explore the cosmos and attempt to predict the future, inviting reflection on shared human pursuits and how they shape innovation and culture today.
Team
Alfonssette Medina, Jenny Lee, Joyce Zheng, Una Zhang
Tools
Fusion 360, CNC, Physical Computing, Python, Unity
My Roles
Research, Concept & Content, Interaction Design, Fabrication, Exhibition Design
Exhibition
NYU ITP Spring Show _ May 2024Long Island Maker Faire _ June 2024
The Experience
Participants are invited to input their birthdays by turning three dials on the front. Their birthday is used to generate a star chart and a horoscope reading through a Python program written based on Vettius Valens’ Anthology (2nd Century CE). As participants move to the back, they can peek through the side of the cabinet to see simulated gear works. In the back, participants watch the stars align accordingly and receive a printed astrology reading, which can be explore further in AR.
A more detailed documentation of the project, including the design, fabrication, and technical process can be find here.
Research
Our research and content are guided by two key questions:
1. How can we transform serious, academic research in lesser-known disciplines into engaging museum experiences that attract visitors of all ages?
2. What untold stories about the Antikythera Mechanism can resonate with our shared, distant past?
After reviewing secondary and translated primary sources, I conducted interviews with Dr. Jones to refine our focus. To minimize the psychological distance participants might feel when engaging with history, we chose astrology readings not only for their plausible historical connection but also for their ability to create instant personal engagement.
To further captivate interest in historical context, we based the astrological readings on Vettius Valens’ Anthology. Practicing in Alexandria during the 2nd century CE, Valens' writings reflect a syncretism of Greek, Egyptian, and Babylonian astrological knowledge. This cultural merging correspond to the technological and intellectual collaboration shown in the design and making of the Antikythera Mechanism.
