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    Where was the first timepiece invented?

    Question #81463. Asked by loominitsa. (Jun 04 07 12:34 PM)


    Trouble325

    		Well, the first timepiece ever was a sundial... and I bet there are 100s of places claiming to have invented that first.
    The very first type of sundial was invented in around 5000-3500 BC - a gnomon consists of a vertical stick casting a shadow. This site doesn't say where it originated though. Note that gnomon now also means the vertical part of a sundial that casts a shadow.

    This site implies that sumen had the first proper sundial... but is not sure.

    It states with certitude that in 2500-2000 BC Babylon and Egypt had obelisks - giant sundials indicating roughly the time of day (morning, noon, afternoon), and the season (by the length of the shadow).

    http://www.accuratesundials.com/site/591582/page/143772

    Wikipedia says that Anaximander is credited with introducing the gnomon to the Greeks - he got it from Babylon.
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomon

    Water clocks are also extremely early time-counting (not time-telling) devices, originated in Babylon, or possibly in India or China.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_clock

    Jun 04 07, 12:53 PM
    star_gazer

    		The Egyptian Pyramids were used as calendars by sunlight also by starlight.

    http://library.thinkquest.org/15215/Friend/time.html

    Jun 04 07, 3:02 PM
    zbeckabee

    		Discovery of first historic clock dating to 6500 years -- Nabta 100 km west of Abou Simbel.

    It is shaped as a circle made of stones whose diameter is 4 meters. There are 6 stones near the center and arranged in two lines extending east and west.

    Time is measured in this clock through the shade of the stones in the center which falls on the stones of the circle.


    http://www.arabicnews.com/ansub/Daily/Day/010409/2001040902.html


    Jun 04 07, 9:28 PM

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