Are the modern computer simulations a substitute for physical models? The Antikythera case

Computer simulation is a modeling and verification tool that is used primarily for mathematical, dynamic, arithmetic models. It is particularly suitable for the study of complex multivariable systems, the verification of a design before the machine is actually built, and the analysis of probabilistic systems. In the case of the Antikythera Mechanism we are faced with a completely deterministic system with a single input. However, the operation of this fascinating mechanism is not known in its entirety, derived only by the parts of the mechanism that have been found and studied. Since it is considered by many to be the first portable computer ever built, it is very appropriate to use a modern date computer simulation for validating the functional description of the machine, as well as estimating the possible operation of missing parts. From identifying errors in Derek de Solla Price’s drawings, to understanding the implementation of the Hipparchos lunar orbit observations, to calculating the exact tolerances required for the construction of a physical model, the simulation of the mechanism has been proven invaluable. In addition, computer simulation is readily available to any researcher or scholar, and can even be used for educational purposes, whenever a physical model is unavailable. Even if a physical model is available and accessible, it can only be used for demonstration purposes. On the contrary, a simulation model can be easily calibrated to exact dates by computationally "turning" the gears to the required time. Then, it can be used for calculating astronomical phenomena in accordance to the mechanism’s original design, without the need for cumbersome adjustments. Finally, as new data about the Antikythera Mechanism become available, the simulation model can be easily reconfigured to take into account the new findings, while a physical model is much more difficult to modify.