19th Century Compass and Sundial Set
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A boxed compass together with an equinoctial sundial, 19th century, the largest 7 cm square
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- Equinoctial Dial on a Sundial - An equinoctial dial is a type of sundial that uses the equator as a reference plane and the gnomon, or sundial arm, is positioned perpendicular to the equator, which allows the sundial to be used in any location with a clear view of the sun and provides an accurate reading of local solar time.
Equinoctial dials were first developed in ancient Greece and were later refined by Arab astronomers. The dials became popular in Europe during the Renaissance, when they were used as both scientific instruments and works of art. Equinoctial dials were particularly popular in Italy, where they were often made of bronze or stone and were decorated with intricate engravings, sculptures, and inscriptions. The sundial as an instrument was superseded by the chronometer.
This item has been included into following indexes:
- sundials