Have you ever wondered how people kept track of time before the invention of clocks and watches? In ancient times, telling time was a completely different experience than what we’re used to today.
Sundials:
One of the earliest ways to tell time was through the use of a sundial. A sundial is a device that uses the position of the sun to determine the time. The most common type of sundial was simply a stick in the ground, which would cast a shadow in different directions depending on the position of the sun.
Water Clocks:
Another ancient time-telling device was the water clock, also called a clepsydra. These devices used water dripping from one container into another to measure time. The amount of water dripping and how quickly it dripped could be used to determine how much time had passed.
Candle Clocks:
Candle clocks were also used in ancient times to tell time. These clocks were made by marking candles at specific intervals, such as every hour or half-hour, and then letting them burn down to those marks. The amount of wax burned would indicate how much time had passed.
Hour Glasses:
Hour glasses were another way that people measured time in ancient times. These glass devices were filled with sand and turned upside down, with the sand trickling down from one part of the glass to another over a set amount of time.
Astrolabes and Nocturnals:
Astrolabes were used for centuries as an astronomical instrument for solving problems related to time and space, especially for celestial navigation and astronomy.
Nocturnals are small circular devices that can be used to tell local apparent sidereal (star) time by counting stars around Polaris or other circumpolar stars near their meridian transit.
The Importance Of Time-Telling Devices:
These time-telling devices were crucial to ancient societies for many reasons. They allowed people to plan their day, schedule meetings, and coordinate with others. They also helped farmers to know when to plant crops and harvest them.
In Conclusion:
While the way we tell time today is vastly different from how people did it in ancient times, it’s important to remember the ingenuity and creativity that went into developing these devices. From sundials to water clocks, ancient civilizations found ways to keep track of time that were innovative and effective for their time.