View source for Antikythera

{{Short description|Greek island}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2023}}
{{For|the oldest known analog computer|Antikythera mechanism}}
{{Infobox Greek Dimos
 |name = Antikythera
 |name_local = Αντικύθηρα
|type = municipal unit
|image_map = 2011 Dimos Kythiron.png
|map_caption = Kythera and Antikythera (south) within Attica
|periph = [[Attica (region)|Attica]]
|periphunit = [[Islands (regional unit)|Islands]]
|municipality = [[Kythira]]
|pop_municunit = 39
|area_municunit = 20.43
|population_as_of = 2021
|elevation =
|coordinates = {{coord|35|52|N|23|18|E|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code = 801 00
|area_code = 27360
|licence =  Z
|website = [http://www.antikythira.gr www.antikythira.gr]
|image_skyline      = Antikythera.JPG
|caption_skyline    = Antikythera's harbour Potamos
}}
'''Antikythera''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|æ|n|t|ɪ|k|ɪ|ˈ|θ|ɪər|ə}} {{respell|AN|tik|ih|THEER|ə}},  {{IPAc-en|USalso|ˌ|æ|n|t|aɪ|k|ɪ|ˈ|-}} {{respell|AN|ty|kih|-}};<ref>{{dict.com|Antikythera}}</ref><ref>{{OED|Antikythera mechanism|1572890579}}</ref> {{Langx|el|label=[[Modern Greek]]|Αντικύθηρα|Antikýthira}}, {{IPA|el|andiˈciθira|IPA}}){{Efn|{{langx|grc|Ἀντικύθηρα}}, {{IPA|grc|antikýtʰɛːra|IPA}}; {{Literal translation|opposite [[Kythira|Kíthira]]}}.|group=note}} or '''Anticythera''', known in antiquity as '''Aigilia''' ({{Lang|grc|Αἰγιλία}}), is a [[Greek island]] lying on the edge of the [[Aegean Sea]], between [[Crete]] and [[Peloponnese]]. Since the 2011 local government reform, it is part of the municipality of [[Kythira]] island.<ref name=Kallikratis>{{Cite web|url=http://www.et.gr/idocs-nph/search/pdfViewerForm.html?args=5C7QrtC22wGYK2xFpSwMnXdtvSoClrL81-32jgAMSfbnMRVjyfnPUeJInJ48_97uHrMts-zFzeyCiBSQOpYnT00MHhcXFRTsb2fGphpq4MKX2ZkaHobySNnvZCNHXvYVvlf80XevW0Q.|title=ΦΕΚ B 1292/2010, Kallikratis reform municipalities|language=el|publisher=[[Government Gazette (Greece)|Government Gazette]]}}</ref>

Antikythera may also refer to the [[Kythira Strait|Kythira-Antikythira Strait]], through which Mediterranean water enters the Sea of Crete.<ref>Peter Saundry, C. Michael Hogan & Steve Baum. 2011. [http://www.eoearth.org/article/Sea_of_Crete?topic=49523 ''Sea of Crete''. Encyclopedia of Earth. Eds.M.Pidwirny & C.J.Cleveland. National Council for Science and Environment. Washington DC.]</ref>

Its land area is {{convert|20.43|km2|abbr=off}},<ref name=stat01>{{cite web|url=http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |publisher=National Statistical Service of Greece |title=Population & housing census 2001 (incl. area and average elevation) |language=el |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921212047/http://dlib.statistics.gr/Book/GRESYE_02_0101_00098%20.pdf |archive-date=21 September 2015 }}</ref> and it lies {{convert|38|km|0|abbr=off}} south-east of [[Kythira]]. It is the most distant part of the [[Attica (region)|Attica]] region from its heart in the [[Athens]] [[metropolitan area]]. It is [[Lozenge (shape)|lozenge]]-shaped, {{convert|10.5|km|1|abbr=on}} NNW to SSE by {{convert|3.4|km|1|abbr=on}} ENE to WSW. It is notable for being the location of the discovery of the [[Antikythera mechanism]] and for the historical Roman-era [[Antikythera wreck]].

Its main settlement and port is Potamós (pop. 34 inhabitants in the 2011 census). The only other settlements are Galanianá (pop. 15), and Charchalianá (pop. 19). Antikythera is periodically visited by the Ablemon Nautical Company ferry ''F/B Ionis'' on its route between [[Piraeus]] (Athens) and [[Kissamos|Kissamos-Kastelli]] on Crete.

== History ==
[[File:0027MAN Paris or Perseus2.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Antikythera Ephebe]]; bronze c. 340–330 BC, [[National Archaeological Museum of Athens]] ]]

The earliest known inhabitants (5th or 4th millennium BC) were likely seasonal hunters who traveled there to exploit the presence of migratory birds. The population of the island then changed frequently as it was settled and abandoned several times, including a period of significant influence by [[Minoans|Cretan culture]] during the Bronze Age.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Bevan | first1 = A. | last2 = Conolly | first2 = J. | last3 = Tsaravopoulos | first3 = A. | year = 2008 | title = The fragile communities of Antikythera | journal = Archaeology International | volume = 10 | pages = 32–36 |doi = 10.5334/ai.1007 | doi-access = free }}</ref> In antiquity, the island of Antikythera was known as Aegilia or Aigilia ({{Lang|grc|Αἰγιλία}}), Aegila or Aigila ({{Lang|grc|Αἴγιλα}}),<ref>{{Cite DGRG|title=Aegilia}}</ref> or Ogylos ({{Lang|grc|Ὤγυλος}}).<ref>{{Cite Barrington|57}}</ref><ref>[https://topostext.org/work/241#O706.3 Stephanus of Byzantium, Ethnica, O706.3]</ref>

Between the 4th and 1st centuries BC, it was used as a base by a group of [[Cilician pirates]] until their destruction by [[Pompey|Pompey the Great]]. Their fort can still be seen atop a cliff to the northeast of the island. The archaeology of the island has been thoroughly surveyed and the data made openly available for further study.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Bevan | first1 = A. | last2 = Conolly | first2 = J. | year = 2012 | title = Intensive Survey Data from Antikythera, Greece | journal = [[Journal of Open Archaeology Data]] | volume =  1| pages =  e3| issue=1| doi = 10.5334/4f3bcb3f7f21d | doi-access = free }}</ref>

Antikythera is one of the few islands in the Aegean which were never ruled by the [[Ottoman Empire]], as the Ottomans did not consider the small island a worthwhile conquest. Nevertheless, it was noted on Ottoman maps as {{Lang|tr|Küçük Çuha}}, a name that has persisted in modern Turkish.

Antikythera, known as ''Cerigotto'' in Italian, was administered by the Venetians as part of the [[Ionian Islands]], despite being several hundred kilometres away from the main Ionian archipelago. The Venetians held out in Antikythera until 1800 while the rest of the Ionian Islands had fallen to [[Napoleonic France]] in 1797. It became a British protectorate in 1815 as part of the [[United States of the Ionian Islands]]. The island was then ceded to Greece under the [[Treaty of London (1864)]].

From 1864 to 1912, Antikythera was the southernmost point of Greece, as Crete and the surrounding islands including [[Gavdos]] were then part of the Ottoman Empire.

Antikythera is most famous for being the location of the 1900 discovery of the [[Antikythera wreck]],<ref>{{cite EB1911|wstitle=Cerigotto|volume=5 |page=761}}</ref> from which the [[Antikythera Ephebe]] and [[Antikythera mechanism]] were recovered. The Antikythera mechanism is an ancient [[mechanical calculator]] (sometimes described as the first mechanical computer) designed to calculate astronomical positions which has been dated to about 205 BC.<ref>{{cite journal|last1=Carman|first1=Christian|last2=Evans|first2=James|title=On the epoch of the Antikythera mechanism and its eclipse predictor|journal=Archive for History of Exact Sciences|date=15 November 2014|volume=68|issue=6|pages=693–774|doi=10.1007/s00407-014-0145-5|s2cid=120548493 |hdl=11336/98820|hdl-access=free}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Scientists may have solved ancient mystery of 'first computer'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2021/mar/12/scientists-move-closer-to-solving-mystery-of-antikythera-mechanism|access-date=2021-03-13|work=[[The Guardian]]|last=Sample|first=Ian|date=12 March 2021}}</ref> Technological artifacts of similar complexity did not reappear until a thousand years later.

==Fauna==
Antikythera is a very important stop-over site for migratory birds during their seasonal movements, due to its geographical position and certain features (a longitudinal island, with a north–south direction and very low human impact).<ref>[http://www.ornithologiki.gr/en/osa/antikythira.php The Importance of Antikythira]</ref> Furthermore, the island hosts the largest breeding colony of [[Eleonora's falcon]] (''Falco eleonorae'') in the world.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Dimalexis | first1 = A | last2 = Xirouchakis | first2 = S | last3 = Portolou | first3 = D | last4 = Latsoudis | first4 = P | last5 = Karris | first5 = G | last6 = Georgiakakis | first6 = P | last7 = Fric | first7 = J | last8 = Barboutis | first8 = C | last9 = Bourdakis | first9 = S | last10 = Ivovič | first10 = M | last11 = Kominos | first11 = T | last12 = Kakalis | first12 = E | year = 2008 | title = Breeding distribution and population status of the Eleonora's falcon (''Falco eleonorae'') in Greece | journal = Journal of Ornithology | volume = 149 | pages = 23–30 | doi=10.1007/s10336-007-0207-4| s2cid = 42039520 }}</ref> The importance of Antikythera for studying [[bird migration]] led to the creation of [[Antikythira Bird Observatory|Antikythera Bird Observatory]] (A.B.O) by the [[Hellenic Ornithological Society]]. The island, along with its associated islets, has been recognised as an [[Important Bird Area]] (IBA) by [[BirdLife International]].<ref name=bli>{{cite web |url= http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/antikythira-island-and-surrounding-islets-iba-greece|title= Antikythira island and surrounding islets|author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2022|website= BirdLife Data Zone|publisher= BirdLife International|access-date= 27 December 2022}}</ref> The island also has a large population of wild goats.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://antikythera.gr/en/culture/articles/agios_miron.html |title=Κοινότητα Αντικυθήρων |access-date=7 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007180223/http://www.antikythera.gr/en/culture/articles/agios_miron.html |archive-date=7 October 2015 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{{Clear}}

==Climate Observation Center (PANGEA)==
Following an agreement among European Investment Bank, the Kithira-Antikithira Commission of Inland Property, the National Observatory of Athens,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.noa.gr/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1266:deltio-typou-deltio-typou-kai-egeneto-fos-sta-antikythira-ksekinise-i-leitourgia-tou-paratiritiriou-geoepistimon-kai-klimatikis-allagis-antikythiron-paggaia-tou-ethnikoy-asteroskopeiou-athinon&catid=103:nea-programmaton&lang=el&Itemid=428| title= Press Release of NAO}}</ref> the Municipality and the Greek Public, a total fund of 25m euros will be used to install one of the largest Climate Observatory Centers in Europe. The project has also gained the support of Cosmote and Niarchos Foundation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://erc.europa.eu/projects-figures/stories/%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%81o-%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%83i-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%B3a%CE%BB%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84i%CE%BA%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-e%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BAh-%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B3h|title=Published Article on European Research Council|access-date=7 September 2020|archive-date=3 September 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200903213605/https://erc.europa.eu/projects-figures/stories/%CE%BC%CE%B9%CE%BA%CF%81o-%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%83i-%CE%BC%CE%B5-%CF%84%CE%BF%CE%BD-%CE%BC%CE%B5%CE%B3a%CE%BB%CE%BF-%CE%B1%CE%BD%CF%84i%CE%BA%CF%84%CF%85%CF%80%CE%BF-%CF%83%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-e%CF%81%CE%B5%CF%85%CE%BD%CE%B1-%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1-%CF%84%CE%B7%CE%BD-%CE%BA%CE%BB%CE%B9%CE%BC%CE%B1%CF%84%CE%B9%CE%BAh-%CE%B1%CE%BB%CE%BB%CE%B1%CE%B3h|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Notable people==
*[[Andreas Anagnostakis]] (1826–1897) physician

==References==
{{NoteFoot}}
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Antikythera}}
*[http://howjsay.com/index.php?word=antikythera Antikythera audio pronunciation]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20141020053001/http://www.antikythira.gr/en/ Official website of the Antikythira Community] {{in lang|el|en}}
* [http://antikythera.whoi.edu The "Return to Antikythera" Dive Official Website (English)]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20140731214902/http://www.antikytheraexcavation.gr/ The Antikythera (Archaeological) Survey Project] (Website in Greek) 
*[http://www.ornithologiki.gr/gr/osa Antikythira Bird Observatory]  (Greek Text)

{{Ionian Islands}}
{{Kythira div}}

{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Antikythera| ]]
[[Category:Ionian Islands]]
[[Category:Islands of Greece]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Greece]]
[[Category:Important Bird Areas of Mediterranean islands]]
[[Category:Landforms of Islands (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Territories of the Republic of Venice]]
[[Category:Populated places in Islands (regional unit)]]
[[Category:Kythira]]