William P Thayer wrote: > One of the cells was covered with mostly 18th-century >graffiti, among which there appears to be a sundial: a dial, about the size >of a modern wall clock, numbered I thru VI, with apparently a gnomon, now >bent.
>Can anyone clear up about what to me is a total mystery? Thanks in advance >to any who try (or who point me to the obvious and elementary). > If this is on a vertical wall with the 'gnomon' placed centrally then I don't think it can be a sundial. Because of the layout of the numbers with 'V' markers to divide up the space precisely I'd suggest that it might have been a primitive gambling game or 'die' / 'dice' substitute? The thing that's missing is a revolving 'arrow' which the hook on the end of the remaining 'pivot' would prevent from falling off. Who needs to know the time in prison? This is a 'boredom reliever' I think Tony Moss.
