ObjID117-1
‹ Ancient Sundials
Dialface ID 115
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Abstract
A protruding lip follows the curve of the dialface. Two sturdy lion legs come out of the concave, seamless frontal part. They end in four-toed and clawed paws, standing on a plinth, running on the same level all around the base. Gibbs: A rounded rectangular gnomon hole (34 mm x 38 mm) is preserved in the top surface of the dial. Eleven hour lines extend between two solstices and are crossed by the equinox. Schaldach: Die Gnomonrinne ist kurz und wenig ausgeprägt. Das Gnomonloch ist nahezu quadratisch mit einer Seitenlänge von etwa 3 cm. Der Limbus kragt 2.5 cm vor und hat eine Breite von 2.5 cm.
Measurements
Measurement record: pipeline ObjID 117, matched to this dialface by inventory number.
| Quality grade | B (completeness 93 %) |
|---|---|
| Dial surface | cone (decisive) · fit residual mm: cone 0.64, cylinder 6.20, sphere 5.24 |
| Latitude φ | 34.48 ± 1.60° (consensus of witnesses) |
| Klima | Rhodes (IV), Delos |
| Engraved lines | 11 hour lines, 3 day lines |
| Cone half-angle α | 41.8 ± 0.14° (cone residual on all points 0.65 mm) |
| Measured | 2026-06-12 20:14 |
What the dial shows at this latitude
| Winter solstice | Equinox | Summer solstice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Noon altitude of the Sun | 31.8° | 55.5° | 79.2° |
| Noon shadow (gnomon heights) | 1.61 | 0.69 | 0.19 |
| Length of the day | 9.7 h | 12.0 h | 14.3 h |
| Length of a seasonal hour | 48 min | 60 min | 72 min |
Computed for the measured latitude with the obliquity of the JPL ephemeris at 101 BC (year -100). The latitude is the one the dial was made for, not a find-spot coordinate.
References
- – Gibbs, Sharon L., Greek and Roman Sundials, New Haven and London, 1976, p. 235.
- – Schaldach, Karlheinz, Die antiken Sonnenuhren Griechenlands. Festland und Peloponnes, Frankfurt am Main, 2006, p. 94, no. 125.
- – Rayet, G., Les Cadrans Solaires Coniques, 1875
- – Severino, Nicola, De Monumentis Gnomonicis apud graecos et romanos. Le meridiane greco-romane. La storia, il catalogo, gli articoli, Roccasecca, 2003, p. 141.
3D Models
