Google marks the discovery of the Antikythera Mechanism with new Doodle

May 17 (UPI) -- Google is celebrating the 115th anniversary of the Antikythera Mechanism's discovery with a new Doodle.

Google's homepage features artwork displaying the Antikythera Mechanism, which first appeared to be a gear or wheel but is now widely referred to as the first known analog computer, in its logo. As the company explains, the Doodle "illustrates how a rusty remnant can open up a skyful of knowledge and inspiration."

Discovered on May 17 in 1902, the artifact was found by archaeologist Valerios Stais as he explored a wrecked Roman cargo ship located at Antikythera, an island in Greece.

"The Antikythera Mechanism tracked planetary positions, predicted lunar and solar eclipses, and even signaled the next Olympic Games," Google writes of what the complex clockwork mechanism could do.

"It was probably also used for mapping and navigation. A dial on the front combines zodiacal and solar calendars, while dials on the back capture celestial cycles. Computer models based on 3-D tomography have revealed more than 30 sophisticated gears, housed in a wooden and bronze case the size of a shoebox," the company continued.

"The mechanism was initially dated around 85 BC, but recent studies suggest it may be even older (circa 150 BC). The crank-powered device was way ahead of its time -- its components are as intricate as those of some 18th-century clocks. "

Today, the mechanism is kept at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens.