Water clocks, one of the first time-telling devices, first appeared in Ancient Egypt during the reign of King Amenhotep I around 1500 BCE. Most ancient Egyptian water clocks were outflow water clocks. These time-keepers consisted of a cylindrical vessel with sloped walls. Water escaped from a small hole in the center of the vessel's base and fell into a basin below. In "Ancient Egyptian Science: Calendars, Clocks and Astronomy," Marshall Clagett notes that equidistant horizontal lines marked cylindrical vessels' interior; these lines represented units of time. If you want to tell time like the Ancient Egyptians, follow these guidelines to create your own water clock.
- 2 plastic yogurt containers
- Waterproof marker
- Ruler
- Push pin
- Duct tape
- Wooden dowel
- Modeling clay
- Wood or sturdy cardboard base
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Instructions
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1
Draw lines around the interior of one container; using a ruler as your guide, space the lines a quarter-inch apart. Make your marks with a waterproof marker to prevent bleeding.
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2
Make a small hole at the bottom of your marked container with a small push pin.
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3
Secure the marked container to the upper area of your wooden dowel. Wrap duct tape around the container and dowel.
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4
Secure the second, unmarked container to the lower area of the dowel. Position it directly under your first container so it can catch dripping water.
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5
Mold modeling clay around the dowel's bottom and attach to the base.
