Sundials are the oldest known devices that have been used since ancient times to measure time.
The ability of a sundial to indicate the time depends upon the rotation, movement and position of the Sun in the sky.
As the Sun moves in the sky from East to West, the shadows formed indicate the time of the day.
Sundials use a stick or pillar called the gnomon, time is calculated depending on the length and position of the shadow.
The shadow of the Sun reveals the time on an ancient sundial at the Henry Flagler museum in West Plam Beach, Florida.
Sundials also provide readings for the dates of the solstices and equinoxes.
This sundial is located at the museum surrounded by many different varieties of trees. This is a beautiful location to enjoy the sounds of the ocean and delicately maintained gardens and landscaping.
In today's complex, digital, world, the sundial timepiece reminds us of the ingenuity and intelligence of our ancestors, which dates back to the Egyptian Period, around 1500 B.C.
It was also used in ancient Greece and Rome over 2000 years ago.
In Europe, it was the most commonly used method to determine time even after the mechanical clock was developed in the 14th century. Whereas mechanical clocks at that time constantly needed to be wound or adjusted for accuracy, the sundial only requires that it be used during the day when the Sun is visible in a clear sky, not blocked by clouds. Also, it requires some skill to interpret the time and perform some basic calculations for precisely determining the time within a specific time zone or latitude and longitude, which require adding or subtracting certain amounts of time, depending on the location of the sundial on the Earth.
I love stories of our ancestors and the world!!!
Enjoy, much love and peace!!!
