# Did the mechanism function as built? · Antikythera Mechanism > Four answers have been proposed. The mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ59Y5GC6/did-the-mechanism-function-as-built Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:49+00:00 --- **0** # Did the mechanism function as built? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·4 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Four answers have been proposed. The mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Three are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters If the gear train jammed within months, the device was a demonstration piece or never finished; if it ran, its maker had solved tolerance problems far ahead of the record. A 2025 simulation raised the question from measured tooth errors⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPZY24AA3/the-impact-of-triangular-toothed-gears-on-the-functionality). ## Answers 4 [**The mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQ9ER4XE4/the-mechanism-ran-as-designed-with-tooth-errors-smaller-than) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQBD822Q4/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible [**The mechanism as made would have jammed or lost engagement within a few months of operation.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQA6652VN/the-mechanism-as-made-would-have-jammed-or-lost-engagement) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for, 1 against Still possible [**The mechanism was a display or teaching piece turned occasionally by hand, so intermittent sticking did not…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQAXM5HFH/the-mechanism-was-a-display-or-teaching-piece-turned) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: 1 for Still possible ## History 1. 2006[Freeth et al. puts forward: the mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQY5J38KW/decoding-the-ancient-greek-astronomical-calculator-known-as) 1. 2006[Freeth et al.: the gearing is coherent and complete enough to be reconstructed as a working train, and the inscriptions…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQY5J38KW/decoding-the-ancient-greek-astronomical-calculator-known-as)For: The mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments. 1. 2016[Jones: the device is a display calculator with extensive explanatory inscriptions.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPXZJ76EP/the-inscriptions-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-2-historical)For: The mechanism was a display or teaching piece turned occasionally by hand, so intermittent sticking did not… 1. 2025[Szigety & Arenas puts forward: the mechanism as made would have jammed or lost engagement within a few months of operation.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPZY24AA3/the-impact-of-triangular-toothed-gears-on-the-functionality) 1. 2025[Szigety & Arenas puts forward: the mechanism was a display or teaching piece turned occasionally by hand, so intermittent sticking did not…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPZY24AA3/the-impact-of-triangular-toothed-gears-on-the-functionality) 1. 2025[Szigety & Arenas: the simulation's authors note that corrosion has deformed the gears their error measurements rest on, so the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPZY24AA3/the-impact-of-triangular-toothed-gears-on-the-functionality)For: The mechanism ran as designed, with tooth errors smaller than those measured in the corroded fragments. 1. 2025[Whiddington: the authors themselves describe the result as speculative and dependent on the measured errors.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FQ0DP4TCA/did-the-antikythera-mechanism-actually-work-a-new-study-says)Against: The mechanism as made would have jammed or lost engagement within a few months of operation. 1. 2025[Szigety & Arenas: with Edmunds's measured errors the simulated train jammed in 90 per cent of runs, typically before the solar…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPZY24AA3/the-impact-of-triangular-toothed-gears-on-the-functionality)For: The mechanism as made would have jammed or lost engagement within a few months of operation. 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ59Y5GC6/did-the-mechanism-function-as-built%23discussion) Help with this question [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ] [ **Propose an answer** Something the evidence could support or rule out ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ59Y5GC6/did-the-mechanism-function-as-built%23add-answer) [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ] [ **Add evidence** A result for or against an answer ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ59Y5GC6/did-the-mechanism-function-as-built%23add-evidence) [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ] [ **Ask a sub-question** A smaller question that would help settle this one ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ59Y5GC6/did-the-mechanism-function-as-built%23add-question) [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ] [ **Add a source** A paper, archive record or image ](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ59Y5GC6/did-the-mechanism-function-as-built%23add-source) Where it fits Antikythera Mechanism **Did the mechanism function as built?** Key question · you're here [Did the front dial display the five planets, and how?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ61C2VH1/did-the-front-dial-display-the-five-planets-and-how)Most likely · the front displayed all five planets with their synodic cycles, as reconstructed in 2021 [ Ask a question under this one ]