Antikythera Tablets

Retrieved from the sea in 1901, just off the coast of Antikythera, The Antikythera mechanism, is an ancient hand-powered analogue computer, but also retrieved at the same time was a second mysterious box. The Antikythera Tablets describe how such a mechanism came into being in a time of Myths and Legends. Now you can own a recreation of the tablets to see if you can fathom the secrets contained within.

What is it?
The Antikythera tablets are a series of mechanical puzzles, in tablet form, stored inside a large wooden puzzle box. The box forms an integral part of the puzzle with the first puzzle needing to be solved to even open the box. Inside are five wooden tablets giving story and clues towards the mechanism origins, once solved all the tablets combine to produce a single, definitive answer revealing a hitherto unknown piece of information for a Greek astrologer.

The Puzzles
Inside the box are five separate tablets, Sisyphus, Odysseus, Heracles, Theseus and Perseus; all Greek heroes with well known myths associated with them and the puzzles reflect the challenges faced by those heroes.

    Sisyphus: Doomed to roll a boulder up a hill for all eternity.
    Odysseus: Investigate the Trojan horse to see if you can discover the secrets hidden within it.
    Heracles: Avoid the Hydras' many heads while trying to slay the beast.
    Theseus: Find your way to the centre of the labyrinth, but where to start?
    Perseus: Free up the shield so you can turn it to face Medusa.

The puzzles come boxed as a package designed to look like the original Antikythera mechanism, they look great stored in a bookcase or on display.

Object: Discover the solution to each tablet
Difficult Level: 10 / 10
Dimensions: 31.5 cm x 20.4 cm x 7.7 cm / 12.4 in x 8 in x 3 in

Notes:

• Each puzzle is unique and will have varying wood grains and tones
• Difficulty ratings are highly subjective