Last weekend Italy, along with many other countries, transitioned to daylight saving time, a practice aimed at maximizing daylight hours during the evening by setting clocks 60 minutes forward. This annual adjustment is a modern solution to optimize energy usage and promote outdoor activities.
However, the concept of timekeeping evolved significantly over the centuries, with ancient civilizations like the Romans adopting unique methods to organize their daily routines. Unlike our modern system of fixed, equal intervals, the ancient Romans had a remarkably different approach, which resulted in some practices we would consider quite peculiar today.
The traditional Roman method of keeping track of time was born around 293 BC with the installation of the first sundial in Rome and was notably distinct from our modern system: instead of adhering to fixed, equal intervals, the Romans divided the day from sunrise to sunset into twelve hours, and similarly from sunset to sunrise. This resulted in variable hour lengths throughout the year, as the duration of daylight changed with the seasons and geographical latitude.
During the summer solstice, at Rome’s latitude, an hour could span approximately 75 minutes, while during the winter solstice, it would contract to around 45 minutes. In a recent article, James Ker, professor of Classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, explained to BBC feature correspondent Zaria Gorvet that the length of hours would change day after day from the Summer Solstice to the Winter Solstice. It would be a minuscule time change, perhaps barely perceivable daily which, however, would eventually lead to having hours of 60 minutes, just like today, twice a year on the equinox, when the Sun is perpendicular to the Equator and day and night roughly last the same time. This way, Gorvet concludes, ancient Romans made the most of daylight all year round, working when the Sun was up in the sky and resting when it was dark.
Time, back then, was commonly measured using sundials, which relied on the Sun’s position for a visual representation of time. They typically featured a flat, circular, or rectangular plate with markings indicating the hours of the day, complemented by a gnomon positioned at the center to cast a shadow onto the marked surface. They varied in design and size, from portable pocket sundials to larger installations in public spaces, each carefully oriented to receive direct sunlight for accurate timekeeping. Beyond their practical function, sundials held symbolic and decorative significance, often adorned with intricate designs and inscriptions.
In 159 BC, however, the Romans introduced a new time-measuring device, the clepsydra, which measured time by the regulated flow of water from one container to another. It consisted of a receptacle with a small hole at the bottom, allowing water to drip at a constant rate into another one below; markings or divisions on the container indicated the passage of time based on the level of water accumulated. Its primary purpose was to divide the day and night into equal hours, regardless of the changing length of daylight so that a more uniform and standardized way of keeping track of time could be used.
However, clepsydras still relied on sundials for calibration and adjustment, which means this older form of keeping time never went fully “out of fashion.”
Roman timekeeping had a significant impact on culture and religion, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to influence modern practices. One notable impact is evident in the timing of prayers and the designation of hours, which played a crucial role in Roman daily life and societal rhythms: the concept of dividing the day into specific intervals for prayer and other activities has persisted through the centuries, shaping both linguistic expressions but also religious rituals and traditions. For example, the term siesta in Spanish derives from the Latin expression hora sexta, which referred to the sixth hour counted from sunrise, corresponding approximately to midday. During this time, Romans would typically pause their activities for a period of rest or relaxation, influenced by the heat of the day and the cultural practice of taking a midday break. The tradition of a midday rest gradually evolved into the siesta observed in many Spanish-speaking countries today.
Roman timekeeping influenced also the development of the canonical hours in the Catholic Church. These designated times for prayer and worship, established by monastic communities in the early Christian era, were based on the Roman division of the day into fixed intervals: each canonical hour corresponded to specific times of the day or night, allowing monks and clergy to engage in communal prayer and spiritual reflection throughout the day.
The canonical hours, including Matins, Lauds, Prime, Terce, Sext, None, Vespers, and Compline, became integral to the liturgical calendar and the rhythm of monastic life, shaping the structure of daily worship services and the observance of religious festivals. This tradition continues to be practiced in various forms within the Catholic Church and other Christian denominations, which shows how, in some contexts, we still rely on the old timekeeping ways of the Romans!
The implementation of daylight saving time is, certainly, the result of our contemporary efforts to optimize productivity and leisure, but it’s worth noting the ingenuity of ancient civilizations like the Romans in their approach to timekeeping. Their methods not only served practical purposes but also left lasting legacies that continue to influence modern practices and traditions. So, as we adjust our clocks to accommodate seasonal changes, let’s also appreciate the timeless wisdom of those who came before us and found harmony between work and rest in the ebbs and flows of nature’s rhythms.
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