As a former student of AP Art History, I found this picture of an ancient Greek astronomical mechanism that seems to resemble a wheel to be intriguing and was interested in both its historical and scientific relevance. It is called the Antikythera mechanism (named for the small Greek island it was found near) and the wheel-like structure is actually a system of gears that comprise this surprisingly sophisticated mechanical computer. This 2,000 year old device was used around 80 BC and was found in a ship wreck in 1901 by divers and analyzed using x-ray radiation in order to reveal its purpose. At first scientists believed the Antikythera mechanism was used as a navigation instrument and others thought it might have been one of Archimedes' small planetariums. After a slow and painstaking process of cleaning the device, scientists agree that it was probably an Astronomical clock used to chart the positions of the planets, the Moon, the Sun and Stars based on a geocentric model of the universe. It is based on the Egyptian calendar of 365 days and the dials can actually be adjusted to compensate for the extra quarter day in the solar year. Also its functions extend beyond astronomy since the device charted the Ancient Olympic games. Its technology is so shockingly advanced that it has been called a precursor to the almanac and has even been compared to 19th century Swiss clocks!
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