Valais wrote: > > Hi all! > > I've just recently joined the list. Probably just a simple question: In > times past, people measured the time through temporal hours, ie. the amount > of daylight was divided into twelve equal parts, and so the hour varied > throughout the year. Now, how was this hour-length measured? If a sundial > was used, was each hour marked on each "day-line" and found with the nodus > (assuming a horizontal dial)? As far as I can see the main problem is that > the first hour for each day begins slightly earlier or later and so shifts > the hour lines out again (ie. a zero-error _and_ an expansion error if you > like). > > Thanks in advance, > > AV > > -------------------------------------------------- > > scribere qui nescit nullam putat esse laborem > > whoso knows not how to write thinks it to be no trouble > > -------------------------------------------------- > > A r t h u r V a l a i s > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > phone 02 9360 1729 > PO BOX 729 > Kensington NSW 2033 > Sydney Australia > > --------------------------------------------------
Hi Arthur, Some thoughts about the antique hours or temporal hours. Every day the sun rises and at that time the first hour begins and the "clock" automaticly is set to the right time. And if the sun sets the 12th hour ends. Just simple. And at the time the sun reaches its highest point, due south ( or north) the 6th hour ends and the 7th starts. Shouldn't this be accurate enough for the people so many centuries ago? Indeed the people could read the sundial if they needed the time more precize, but I think they didn't care about minutes or seconds as we do. Fer de Vries Netherlands.
