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The Antikythera Shipwreck The Ship, the Treasures, the Mechanism
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Investigation of the shipwreck off the northeast coast of Antikythera inaugurated underwater archaeology: it also offered a new and invaluable insight into ancient Greek technology. From the dawn of the 20th century when the one-of-a-kind mechanism was found down to the present day, the novel-like story of its retrieval and, above all, the repeated investigations into its complicated structure and operation have proven endlessly fascinating. The other archaeological remains throw unique light on questions involving the history of art, maritime commerce, and the trade in artistic products: so illuminating the manner of reception of the Greek lifestyle by Roman aristocrats and wealthy businessmen as the latter were creating the new world order in the Mediterranean. In the Greek seas, the first (unsuccessful) underwater archaeological investigation was undertaken in 1884 in the area of the shipwreck off Salamis at the urging of archaeologist Christos Tsountas. Sponge fishermen from Symi found the Antikythera shipwreck in 1900. And it was no coincidence that Greek sponge divers also discovered the Mahdia shipwreck off Tunisia in 1907: until 1942, when Emile Gagnan and Jacques-Yves Cousteau improved diving techniques, professional sponge fishermen were the underwater world's sole visitors. The scale of mobilization for retrieving the wreck was unprecedented for the times and the means of the Greek state. For nearly a year, the Archaeological Service, supported by the Royal Navy, charged divers from Symi with the extremely difficult task of salvaging the sculptures and luxury utensils which formed the main bulk of the ship's cargo. Sections of the ship's hull and equipment were also found with the cargo. In 1976, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who had visited the site in 1953, placed the infrastructure of his oceanographic vessel Calypso at the disposal of the Greek state for further investigation in the wreck area.
