Antikythera Shipwreck
Ναυάγιο των Αντικυθήρων
Greece · Attica, Islands regional unit, off Antikythera
In brief
The wreck off Antikythera is known for its ancient statues and astronomical mechanism. Current underwater excavations investigate the ship's structure, cargo and the distribution of remains across the wreck site.
What was found?
- 1Antikythera Mechanism
It is a portable astronomical calculator consisting of bronze gears. It was used to calculate the movements of the Sun and Moon, predict eclipses, and keep a calendar.
- 2Bronze and marble statues
Numerous statues were recovered from the wreck's cargo. They directly show that the ship was carrying works of art.
- 3Connected wooden hull fragments
Outer planking and an internal supporting member preserved together were recovered. Their joints document the shipbuilding technique in which the outer shell was constructed first.
- 4Amphorae from Sakız
Amphorae originating from Sakız were found in two separate parts of the wreck site. They show that the variety of transport containers in the cargo was greater than previous records indicated.
- 5Terracotta mortar
The spouted vessel was used to crush or mix food. It is tangible evidence of eating and food preparation practices aboard the ship.
What does it point to?
The wreck documents the transport of artworks, shipbuilding, and everyday life aboard the ship together. The mechanism shows that astronomical knowledge could be translated into a complex system of gears.
What did it teach us?
- Showed that portable mechanical devices capable of eclipse and calendar calculations were produced in antiquity.
- The connected hull fragments provided direct evidence of the shipbuilding technique.
- The amphorae and kitchen vessel offered different information about the ship's cargo and life aboard.
Images



Latest news / selected archive
In 2025, wooden hull fragments found in 2024 were recovered, and new fragments of male statues were documented underwater.
Record
- Culture
- Hellenistic, Roman
- First modern dig
- 1900
- Team / historical
- Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece, University of Geneva, and Greece's Ephorate of Underwater Antiquities; Angeliki Simosi and Lorenz Baumer
- Coordinates
- 35.8897°, 23.3078°
Sources
- esag.swiss
- laskaridisfoundation.org
- en.wikipedia.org
- Yunanistan Kültür Bakanlığı — The Antikythera Mechanism
- Swiss School of Archaeology in Greece — 2025 kazı duyurusu
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- Zominthos 160 km
- Phaistos 165 km
- Knossos 180 km
- Sanctuary of Asklepios at Epidaurus 191 km
- Palace of Nestor at Pylos 192 km
- Akrotiri 195 km
- —
- —
- 12.000
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All excavation sites (395)
Türkiye
- Acemhöyük
- Aizanoi
- Alabanda
- Alacahöyük
- Amos
- Ani
- Aphrodisias
- Arslantepe Mound
- Aspendos
- Assos
- Ayanis Fortress
- Aşıklı Höyük
- Barcın Höyük
- Blaundus
- Boncuklu Höyük
- Can Hasan I
- Carchemish
- Claros Sanctuary
- Clazomenae
- Domuztepe
- Ephesus
- Euromus
- Gordion
- Göbekli Tepe
- Hadrianopolis in Paphlagonia
- Hattusha
- Hierapolis
- Iasos
- Kaman-Kalehöyük
- Karahantepe
- Karatepe-Aslantaş
- Kaunos
- Kibyra
- Knidos
- Kültepe-Kanesh
- Laodicea on the Lycus
- Letoon Sanctuary
- Limyra
- Magnesia on the Maeander
- Medieval City of Beçin
- Metropolis in Ionia
- Miletus
- Myra
- Nemrut Dağ
- Nysa on the Maeander
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- Oymaağaç Höyük — Nerik
- Patara
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- Perge
- Phaselis
- Priene
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- Sapinuwa
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- Sayburç
- Side
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- Tell Atchana – Alalakh
- Teos
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- Troy
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- Xanthos
- Yenikapı – Theodosian Harbour Excavations
- Yeşilova Höyük
- Yumuktepe
- Zerzevan Castle
- Zeugma
- Zincirli Höyük — Sam'al
- Çatalhöyük
- Çavuştepe Fortress
- Çayönü
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