When I see a sundial I always stop and have a look: man harnessing time and all that jazz.
They always make me think of human sacrifices for some reason.
The first ones were made in about 3,500 BC; maybe earlier. Whoever figured that one out, I salute you and your madman ideas.
I like the human sundials where your head is the gnomon and your shadow points to the time. I looked that information up with that 3,500 BC number. It sounds kind of Jamaican to me.
I bet the common peasant wasn’t too happy about the sundial: no more arriving a few minutes late for work, no more long lunch breaks, no more knocking off work early to go to the camel races.
If a sundial broke, I can imagine the sundial repair guy saying, “We’re going to have to order a replacement stone from Wales. Could be… mmmm….. 3 to 6 fullmoons. These things take time you know.“
note: The sanddial and waxdial were invented first, but they weren’t very popular for some reason.
1 response so far ↓
Pomeroy! // May 22, 2008 at 3:49 am |
I wouldn’t mind wearing a wrist-sundial.
You can check time during the day, and use it to defend yourself at night.
It’s a win-win, really.