Answer to Question #157696 in History for EUGINE HAWEZA

Question

Describe the invention of the time keeping devices in ancient Egypt and explain how each one of them was used. What element of these ancient time keeping systems do you see in the modern system?

Answer 1

The ancient Egyptians were among the first cultures to split the day into two 12 hours period parts and then into smaller hours and used large obelisks to track the sun's movement by reading the shadows. The ancients Egyptians used time-keeping instruments such as shadow clocks, sundials, and maerkhets ( plumber-lines used by early astronomers). Most sundials were arranged in the form of obelisks surrounded with makers that would indicate time unites comprehending morning and afternoon and summer and winter solstices for the conventional purpose. Moreover, ancient Egyptians could use plumb-lines maerkhets to calculate the time at night. Pharaohs inverted the 365-day calendar focusing on the Niles flood cycle to identify floods or lower water levels anticipated to help farmers water their lands. It is used today as well with adding one day per 4 years. Additionally, shadow clocks and sundials are used in modern days regularly for entertaining purposes.