Early Clocks – Tracing the Origin of the Most Puzzling Thing in Time

It would probably surprise you to know that clocks are among the earliest inventions ever made by mankind. This claim, however surprising, is true. Time has been such an invaluable concept throughout history as recognized by ancient people such as the Greeks and the Egyptians who knew that time is fleeting and was well aware of it. After all, time is needed in being aware of the changing seasons for cultivation and harvest as well as being aware of night and day.

Recognizing the importance of time brought about the invention of the early clocks in history. Though ancient, these early clocks remain to fascinate people of the modern age because of its ingenuity and remarkable precision.

The Crude Form of Early Clocks

The reason why the earliest clocks can be called crude is because they’re so basic in mechanisms and functions and practically work in a very ordinary yet precise manner. By ordinary, this means that it makes use of natural forces such as gravity and raw solar power. An example of a crude form of early clocks is the sundial. Basically, sundials are composed of a gnomon, which projects the shadow on the next component, the face, which is basically just a round plate. Because the earth is tilting on its axis, the sun seems to move in a clockwise direction, thus, changing the position of the shadow in the sundial. This is a simple mechanism but remarkably excellent in telling what time it is.

Another crude form of early clocks is candle clocks. These are used by priests of different religions in order to indicate the passage of a certain amount of time. This is important because it tells the priest how long has passed from the moment a candle clock is burned until it is fully consumed by the fire. For different religions, this signifies different meanings.

And then there are the water clocks, which must have been the latest of the crude forms of early clocks. Basically, it uses water in order to tell the passage of time.

The Developed Form of Early Clocks

Though it was never really clearly stated, the development of early clocks was said to have taken place either in Europe or Asia. In Europe, no artifacts can be found as to what the structures of the early clocks that have been developed are. All that is left are related writings that claim of a discovery of a more advanced form of early clocks. In Asia, particularly in Muslim states, developed early clocks such as the Elephant and the Castle were developed. These served as symbols of power, more than symbols of telling time.