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Did the front dial display the five planets, and how?

Asked 26 Oct 2026 by ·Part of Did the mechanism function as built?·3 answers·0·0 following
Most likely: the front displayed all five planets with their synodic cycles, as reconstructed in 2021Ahead on the evidence, not yet confirmed. It needs two reviews to be accepted.

Where it stands

Three answers have been proposed. The front displayed all five planets with their synodic cycles, as reconstructed in 2021. leads, with evidence 1 for, 1 against: partly supported by its tests. Two are still possible.

Why it matters

The back-cover inscription names the planets, but no planetary gearing survives; the 2021 reconstruction is a hypothesis about the lost front⁠[1].

Answers 3

Evidence: 1 for, 1 against
Most likely
None of these.
Not tested enough to call either way
Evidence: none yet
Still possible
Evidence: none yet
Disputed

History

  1. Freeth et al. puts forward: the front showed only the sun and moon; the planetary text describes a display that was planned or simplified.
  2. Freeth et al. puts forward: the front displayed all five planets with their synodic cycles, as reconstructed in 2021.
  3. Freeth et al.: no planetary gears survive, so the reconstruction rests on inscriptions and inference.Against: The front displayed all five planets with their synodic cycles, as reconstructed in 2021.
  4. Freeth et al.: the back-cover inscription names the planets and the reconstruction fits the described cycles with plausible…For: The front displayed all five planets with their synodic cycles, as reconstructed in 2021.
  5. Asked on this site
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