Water Clock

The ancient Egyptians 𓆎𓏏𓀀𓁐𓏪 were no doubt masters of math and science 𓂋𓐍𓏏𓏜! One of the ancient Egyptians’ long lasting contributions to the world was the creation of the 365 (and eventually 365.25) day calendar! They even invented the sundial 𓍬𓏏𓊌 (also known as the “shadow clock”), which was the first portable time keeping device! They also invented a device called a Water Clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻.

This piece pictured is also a clock – or a piece of one at least! This is basalt fragment is part of a device that is known as a water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻. The water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is the first clock that doesn’t depend on an astronomical object to tell the time! The oldest water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 known was found in the tomb 𓇋𓇩𓊃𓉐 of the pharaoh 𓉐𓉻 Amenhotep I 𓇋𓏠𓈖𓊵𓏏𓊪(c. 1500 B.C.E.). The Greeks even adopted the use of water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 around 325 B.C.E. and named them “clepsydras” which translates to “water thieves.” 

A water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is a round vessel/vase that has a hole at the bottom that allowed water 𓈗 to drip through at a slow pace. Water clocks 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻𓏪 were usually used to tell time at night 𓎼𓂋𓎛𓄛, but they might have been used during the day 𓉔𓂋𓏺𓇳 too. The water 𓈗 was drained from the vessel after twelve 𓎆𓏻 hours, and then it could be refilled and be used again! Markings on the side helped to keep more accurate time! 

This fragment of a water clock 𓈙𓃀𓅱𓃻 is really cool because it has the cartouche 𓏠𓈖𓈙𓍷 of Alexander the Great 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 on it! Alexander the Great’s 𓄿𓃭𓎡𓊃𓇋𓈖𓂧𓂋𓊃 name 𓂋𓈖 is written with all phonogram symbols, which shows the versatility of hieroglyphs 𓊹𓌃𓏪! Even foreign names 𓂋𓈖𓏦 could be written with ease! 

This is my personal photograph and original text. DO NOT repost without permission.