TOP 10 ancient technologies that continue to keep their secrets

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

Man has always been interested in what happened before him. Historians today enthusiastically take up the study of times that are already distant for us. And all because no matter how long and carefully we investigated the events of hoary antiquity, they continue to keep in themselves many blank spots and so far undisclosed secrets. We bring to your attention a dozen of amazing technologies of the past, whose secrets have not yet been solved.

1. Zhang Heng's seismoscope

China is famous for its great ancient history and its heritage. Silk, gunpowder, even paper money - all this, as they say, is Made in China. But the list of amazing inventions of this country includes another curious device - a seismoscope. It was developed by the Chinese scientist Zhang Heng back in 132 AD. According to modern researchers, this is the first device of this type that has come down to us from antiquity. Moreover, the accuracy of his predictions of earthquakes is comparable to the readings of the most modern instruments.

The seismoscope is a bronze vessel, similar to a wine vessel, with a domed lid; in a circle there are eight figures of dragons with bronze balls in their mouths, which "look" in the four cardinal directions and intermediate directions. Exactly below them, around the vessel are eight frogs with open mouths. Inside the vessel was a pendulum that caught seismic activity and swayed in anticipation of an earthquake, activating levers that open the dragons' jaws. The ball fell out of the figure and ended up inside the frog, making a loud ringing.

Interesting fact:in 2005, the most accurate copy of Zhang Heng's seismoscope was created, which proved its accuracy in comparison with modern instruments.

2. Iron column from Delhi

India does not lag behind its eastern neighbor. So, in Delhi there is an ancient temple, the highlight of which is the Iron Column, or the Pillar of Indra, whose history amazes the minds of both ordinary people and experienced scientists. The artifact is a column a little more than seven meters high, which is approximately 1600 years old. According to the Sanskrit record, the column was made during the reign of Emperor Chandragupta II (376-415). But the most amazing thing is that during this long period it has absolutely not rusted.

Studies have shown that in its composition, the Pillar of Indra is 99.5% iron, and taking into account the humid Indian climate, it should have rusted through and crumbled long ago. However, the column does not show any signs of corrosion today and looks the same as it did 1600 years ago. And scientists still cannot understand how this is possible at all: some even put forward versions of the alien origin of the technology.

3. Baghdad battery

In ancient times, it was Mesopotamia that for centuries remained the center of human civilization, so it is not surprising that in this territory traces of unique, hitherto unsolved technologies of the past were found. We are talking about the so-called "Baghdad battery". This amusing artifact was found in 1936 by the Austrian archaeologist W. Köning near Baghdad. It is an oval earthenware jug, inside of which there is a twisted copper sheet, a metal rod and pieces of bitumen are also placed in it. The Baghdad find today is considered one of the first galvanic elements of antiquity.

Actually, this artifact was called a "battery" rather because of the assumption in its use, since there is still no consensus on the scope of its application in the scientific world. However, traces of corrosion inside the copper cylinder indicate the presence of a liquid with clear acidic characteristics - presumably vinegar or wine. In fairness, it should be clarified that the "Baghdad Battery" is not the only artifact of its kind. Similar finds were also made in the area of the cities of Ctesiphon and Seleucus, however, they have not yet been able to help scientists unravel the secret of these vessels.

4. Nimrud lens

This artifact was discovered by British archaeologist Austin Henry Layard back in 1853 during excavations of one of the ancient Assyrian capitals - Nimrud, after which it was actually named (another name is Layard's lens). The find is an oval-shaped lens made of natural rock crystal around 750-710s. BC. But for more than a century and a half of research, the purpose of this device has remained unknown.

There are several versions as to how the Nimrud lens could be used. According to the hypothesis of the Italian professor Giovanni Pettinato, it could have been a component of the telescope among the ancient Assyrians, who had a fairly extensive knowledge of astronomy. Other versions of the use of the lens, for example, say that it could be part of a piece of jewelry or an object of sacred meaning and used in rituals.

5. Drive Sabu

When in 1936, Egyptologist Walter Brian Emeray was busy excavating the burial of the ancient Egyptian official Mastab Sabu (3100-3000 BC) in Sakkara, he hardly imagined that he would find a thing there, the secret of which still torments the minds of many researchers of history. Of the Ancient East. We are talking about the mysterious "Disc of Sabu" - a strange artifact about which absolutely nothing is known: neither its origin, nor the specifics of its application.

The find is a three-piece disc. In fact, it resembles a stone plate with three blades curved inward and a small cylindrical sleeve in the middle. One can only guess about the purpose of the Disk for Sabu. To date, such hypotheses have been put forward regarding its application: it could be a lamp or part of a still unknown mechanism. Perhaps this is just an unusual shaped plate.

6. Antikythera mechanism

Nevertheless, the epoch of Antiquity remains the record holder for the number of inventions. This find was made back in 1901 in the area of Antikythera Island, but even today it drives the majority of scientists into a stupor. The strange mechanism consists of a wooden case, on which are located thirty bronze gears, as well as dials with arrows from the same material. The device was put into operation by turning the handle, which has not survived to this day.

The Antikythera mechanism is striking in the number of functions it performs. According to researchers, it was used as an astronomical, cartographic, meteorological and general educational device: it could calculate the trajectory of celestial bodies, the dates of forty-two different astronomical phenomena, predict the color and size of a solar eclipse, and even determine the strength of the winds. Such versatility is astounding for a device from the times of antiquity, therefore the Antikythera Mechanism is considered the most accurate device of its time, and sometimes it is even called "the world's oldest computer."

7. Greek fire

Greek fire is a unique, half-legendary technology, the secret of which has been actively tried to unravel for more than two hundred years. It was in the 19th century that a whole wave of popularity of this ancient phenomenon arose, and since then the controversy has continued. The first mention of Greek fire that has come down to us dates from about 190 BC. BC and is found in sources dedicated to the defense of the island of Rhodes. The mechanic Kallinikos of Heliopolis is believed to be the alleged author of the ancient technology.

The exact composition of the unique fire is still unknown, mainly due to insufficient mention in the sources, as well as errors in translation into other languages. Today, researchers name quicklime, sulfur, crude oil and even asphalt as the most likely components of "Greek fire". The main advantage of the technology is that, according to the testimonies, this fire cannot be extinguished, and water only makes it flare up more strongly. Therefore, the first sphere of its application was precisely naval battles. Later it was used during the storming of ancient and then Byzantine cities.

8. Roman concrete

The Roman Empire was the standard of power and greatness. And the legacy left is appropriate: the remains of ancient buildings, aqueducts and, of course, the Colosseum excite the imagination with its grandeur and scale. At the same time, a lot of monuments, despite the past millennia, have come down to us in very good condition. Often the reason for this preservation is the use of the so-called "emplekton" - concrete, which is not afraid of time.

In fairness, it should be clarified that the Romans were not the inventors of a unique cement mixture, but rather became popularizers of its use - the Etruscans invented it. Today, scientists already know some of the ingredients of this composition, amazing in its properties, but it has not yet been possible to fully unravel the mystery of Roman concrete. In particular, it was found that the cement mixture was made using lime and volcanic ash, and the amount of the former was noticeably lower compared to other compositions. It is also known that Roman concrete was produced at a temperature of about 900 degrees Celsius.

9. Roman dodecahedron

The history of the study of these artifacts is truly amazing: objects united by the common name "Roman dodecahedron" over a two-hundred-year archaeological activity have not found more than a hundred of the territory of the empire, and scientists still know nothing about them: about their use, however, as well as about their origin, so far that only assumptions are made.

Artifacts are small stone or bronze objects in the form of a dodecahedron, hollow in size, that is, twelve pentagonal faces, each of which had circular holes in the center. The tops of the finds have small balls. The dating of their manufacture is also known - 2-4 centuries AD. Today, there are almost three dozen hypotheses about the possible purpose of dodecahedrons, including: measuring or geodetic devices, jewelry, games, and even an instrument of an ancient Roman plumber.

10. Phaistos disc

This artifact not only does not reveal its secrets, but on the contrary, as if it leads the researchers by the nose. After all, each revealed detail about the Phaistos disc only adds questions, to which there are no answers yet. The find was made in 1908 by members of an Italian archaeological expedition who worked in the southern part of Crete on the excavations of the royal palace of the ancient city of Festa.

The artifact is a disc with 259 signs inscribed on it. Moreover, literally everything in it is mysterious: the clay from which it is made is simply not found on the island of Crete, the text has not been solved. Even the technique of applying marks on the disk is surprising: they are not drawn with a stick, but as if stamped with special seals.