Transcript TELLING TIME IN ANCIENT ROME

TELLING TIME IN ANCIENT ROME
The Sundial
The Passage of Time
 Romans first used the sun’s movement to measure the
passage of time
 Using this method, they could only precisely measure
sunrise, midday, and sunset
 Used the length of shadows to estimate other times of day
Introduction of the Sundial
 Travelers from Sicily brought the sundial to Rome in 263
B.C.
 Was set up in the Forum
 Other sundials were set up in public buildings or squares
 Sundial enabled the Romans to divide the day into 12 equal
parts, or hours
 Hours became a way to mark time and meetings