Greek mythology became a thing around 700 BC which means the events of the myths aren't much older. Alexander the Great lived in the 300 BC's and is said to be the last child of Zeus. Obviously not provable but there's quite a bit too it. Anyways, the device is said to be from around 200 BC and I think it's very possible that the gods were still interacting with humans but in a more hidden and discreet fashion at this time. It could easily have been a gift from one of them and some how ended up on that boat. How else does a mechanism such as this appear 1,500 years ahead of its time?