Tracking Time ...

Early man tracked time through observation of the world around him. The movement of stars/sun in the sky, the growth of plants, the habits of the animals ... all gave a glimpse of when time changed.

 Movement of the sun from dawn to dusk tracked the length of the day.
Location of the sun tracked the seasons.

The Sun Dial was used by the Sumarians and early Egyptians.

The Egyptians constructed four-sided and tapered monuments, or obelisks, geographically located in certain places. These obelisks were believed to have been constructed around 3500 BC. A shadow would be cast by the obelisk as the sun made it’s way across the sky. This obelisk would be marked out in certain sections to see the two halves of the day.

Later, around 1500 BC a new form of clock, or sundial, permitted one to measure the passage of hours within a day.

These Sundials might be large enough to walk around, perhaps see from great heights?





















Or, the dials might be small enough to carry in a bag or pocket, or wear around the neck.





Here are some post cards available on Zazzle that show various types and sizes of sundials.



Portable sundial, silver and gold, 10th century (d postcardPortable sundial, silver and gold, 10th century (d postcard

Sundial In The Rookery, Streatham Common PostcardSundial In The Rookery, Streatham Common Postcard

The first spring driven clock with fusee, view of postcardThe first spring driven clock with fusee, view of postcard

The Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay PostcardThe Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay Postcard

Antique Sundial PostcardAntique Sundial Postcard

Sundial PostcardSundial Postcard

Sundial & Tower Bridge PostcardSundial & Tower Bridge Postcard

GardenSundial050111 PostcardGardenSundial050111 Postcard

SundialBriefcase110510 PostcardSundialBriefcase110510 Postcard

PocketSundial110510 PostcardPocketSundial110510 Postcard

Sundial Bridge PostcardSundial Bridge Postcard

Waiting for the Sun PostcardWaiting for the Sun Postcard

Close-up of a sundial postcardClose-up of a sundial postcard

Sundial PostcardSundial Postcard

Sundial PostcardSundial Postcard

sundial flowers postcardsundial flowers postcard

London Time postcardLondon Time postcard

Sundial PostcardSundial Postcard

THE BEST IS YET TO COME! POSTCARDTHE BEST IS YET TO COME! POSTCARD

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