# When was the mechanism made? · Antikythera Mechanism > Three answers have been proposed. The astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after. leads, with… Source: https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ5HR1FYH/when-was-the-mechanism-made Publisher: Mysteries Department Licence: CC BY 4.0 (credit Mysteries Department and link the page) Updated: 2026-10-26T11:56:49+00:00 --- **0** # When was the mechanism made? Asked 26 Oct 2026 by [**apollo** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/u/apollo)·3 answers·0·0 following **Most likely: the astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after** Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted. ## Where it stands Three answers have been proposed. The astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after. leads, with evidence 2 for: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible. Of the one narrower question under it, none is answered yet. ## Why it matters The date places the device in the history of Greek astronomy and mechanics: a 150 to 100 BC date fits the generation after Hipparchus; an earlier date would make it older than the lunar theory it embodies⁠[[1]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPYF66JCC/on-the-epoch-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-and-its-eclipse)⁠[[2]](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPY7C1DJK/the-epoch-dates-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-with-an). ## Answers 3 [**The astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQBN24PMC/the-astronomical-scheme-was-fixed-to-an-epoch-of-205-bc-and) Partly supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**The scheme uses a 205 BC epoch but the object was made later, in the second or first century BC, up to the…** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQCCG615X/the-scheme-uses-a-205-bc-epoch-but-the-object-was-made-later) Supported by its tests Evidence: 2 for Most likely [**None of these.** ](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/answers/ANS0D3FQD3Y2WGB/none-of-these) Not tested enough to call either way Evidence: none yet Still possible ## History 1. 2006[Freeth et al.: the pin-and-slot device models Hipparchus's lunar anomaly, which places the design in or after his lifetime.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D8MQY5J38KW/decoding-the-ancient-greek-astronomical-calculator-known-as)For: The scheme uses a 205 BC epoch but the object was made later, in the second or first century BC, up to the… 1. 2014[Carman & Evans puts forward: the astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPYF66JCC/on-the-epoch-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-and-its-eclipse) 1. 2014[Carman & Evans: the Saros dial's eclipse sequence is best explained by a starting full moon in 205 BC.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPYF66JCC/on-the-epoch-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-and-its-eclipse)For: The astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after. 1. 2016[Jones: letter forms are dated to roughly the late third to mid first century BC, which admits but does not require…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPXZJ76EP/the-inscriptions-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-2-historical)For: The astronomical scheme was fixed to an epoch of 205 BC and the device was made then or soon after. 1. 2020[Jones puts forward: the scheme uses a 205 BC epoch but the object was made later, in the second or first century BC, up to the…](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPY7C1DJK/the-epoch-dates-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-with-an) 1. 2020[Jones: jones argues the design decisions behind both epochs could have been made as late as the shipwreck.](https://mysteriesdept.com/sources/SRC0D3FPY7C1DJK/the-epoch-dates-of-the-antikythera-mechanism-with-an)For: The scheme uses a 205 BC epoch but the object was made later, in the second or first century BC, up to the… 1. 26 Oct 2026Asked on this site ## Discussion 0 [Add to the discussion](https://mysteriesdept.com/signin?next=/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ5HR1FYH/when-was-the-mechanism-made%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/QST0D3FQ5HR1FYH/when-was-the-mechanism-made%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/QST0D3FQ5HR1FYH/when-was-the-mechanism-made%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/QST0D3FQ5HR1FYH/when-was-the-mechanism-made%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/QST0D3FQ5HR1FYH/when-was-the-mechanism-made%23add-source) Where it fits Antikythera Mechanism **When was the mechanism made?** Key question · you're here [Where, and by whom, was the mechanism made?](https://mysteriesdept.com/mysteries/antikythera-mechanism/questions/QST0D3FQ5SJ2E5J/where-and-by-whom-was-the-mechanism-made)Most likely · made for, or in, Epirus or north-west Greece, where the calendar fits best [ Ask a question under this one ]