Just off the bouldered shores of Greece , a treasure treasure trove of artifacts has been discovered at the site of a noted ancient wreck . Among many breakthrough is a marble fountainhead of Hercules , the famously unattackable divine sub from ancient Greek and Roman mythology , and perhaps even some human remains .
The Antikythera crash is a Roman - era wreck date from around 60 BCE that resides on the seabed nor'-west of Crete . It ’s well known as the shipwreck that held the rust cadaver of a machine believed to be the earth ’s oldest known analog computer , theAntikythera mechanism .
The wreck was first discovered by sponge diver in 1900 , but on-going archeologic projects have continued to reveal a routine of challenging finds .
The marble base being removed by the team. Image credit: Nikos Giannoulakis)
Today , shipboard soldier archaeologistsannouncedthe results of an “ extremely successful ” expeditiousness that start with the removal of a heavy rock , allowing access to a previously undiscovered part of the shipwreck .
Within this new cavity , they discovered the footstall of a marble statue featuring the lower parts of the legs , coat in a thick layer of maritime deposits ( pictured above ) . They also discovered the marble statue school principal of a whiskered adult male which they surmise depicts Herakles ( also known as the Roman Hercules ) . It ’s believed to have accompany a brainless statue visit the “ Herakles of Antikythera ” that was first liberated from the water in 1900 .
They also divulge two human teeth embed into the maritime deposits that have appeared on the wreck over the millennia . This is particularly exciting as genetical and isotopic psychoanalysis of the tooth might be able to shed some more light on the the great unwashed who sail this ship some 2,000 years ago .
A head of the statue, believed to depict Hercules. Image credit: Orestis Manousos
Back in 2016 , a 2,000 - year - sometime human skeleton nicknamed Pamphiloswas foundat the wreck . Researchers have discover all kinds of things at the wreck , from statues and jewellery to the Antikythera mechanism itself . This array of object hints that it was most likely a trade ship .
Through take the objects found at the shipwreck , the team hopes to gain some apprehension of the ship ’s doomed voyage . Its tale is not totally clear , but it appears the 40 - time - long ( 130 - pes ) vessel was probably locomote from the Eastern Mediterranean toward Rome . Unfortunately , it failed to reach its destination after a storm sent itcrashing into the rocksoff the coast of Antikythera .
Of all the wreck ’s physical object , none are more intriguing than theAntikythera mechanics . Using a series of bronze cogwheel , it was used to predict eclipses , traverse the movements of the Sun , Moon , and stars , and the positions of the five planets then known to the ancient Greeks : Mercury , Venus , Mars , Jupiter , and Saturn .
It remains a mystery why this incredible object was on the ill - fated ship , however .
