This awesome modern gem emulates ancient astronomically aligned megalithic sites in measuring many important temporal and calendrical aspects, including the hours of the day and months of the years, as well as the cardinal points, solstices, equinoxes and cross-quarter days. While the stones may look simple, the calculations are complicated! This important information - which allowed humanity to develop civilization - is, in fact, what the ancients were often commemorating with their numerous temple sites worldwide. The combination of this astronomical information at a place of religious worship represents what we call "astrotheology."
The Earth Clock sundial has been constructed in Burlington, Vermont, but the blueprint is available for your community as well!
Aerial view of the Burlington Earth Clock/sun dial
The Earth Clock is great to teach children how to measure time using the sun!
"43.5' diameter Earth Clock on the Burlington Bike Path just North of Oakledge Park uses the stones on the western edge of the circle to point to the sunsets on the Adirondack Mountains as the sun moves from Winter Solstice in the South through Equinox in the West to the Winter Solstice in the north and back again."
Further Reading
Circles for Peace
Secular Solstice, Equinox & Seasonal Peak Celebrations
'Earth Clock' Artwork by David Brizentine
Astrotheology of the Ancients
Ancient Observatories Found Worldwide
Sunwheel Project by astronomer Dr. Judith S. Young
2,500-year-old solar observatory in Peru reveals advanced culture
New discoveries indicate ancient British sun worship
Archaeologist: American churches astronomically aligned
Ancient Greeks aligned temples to the sun
World's oldest observatory found?
-
|2011-07-29 14:46:25 JoseYeah, I really like this too. I want one! I like the idea of something like this to inspire young people to get involved with astronomy and the ancient myths that went with it i.e. astrotheology.
As an atheist/Freethinker, I'm reminded of this quote:
Quote:"ATHEISTS: There has been a recent increase in solstice observances by Atheists in the U.S. For example, The American Atheists and local Atheist groups have organized celebrations for 2000-DEC, including the Great North Texas Infidel Bash in Weatherford TX; Winter Solstice bash in Roselle NJ; Winter Solstice Parties in York PA, Boise ID, North Bethesda MD, and Des Moines IA; Winter Solstice Gatherings in Phoenix AZ and Denver CO: a Year End Awards and Review Dinner (YEAR) in San Francisco, CA."
http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice
Keep up the great work, Acharya S.
-
|2011-07-29 23:43:22 David Brizendine - Earth Clock CreatorsThank you, Acharya,
This is on City parks and rec land.
We have celebrations on all of the solstices, equinox and cross quarter days. School trips come to learn about the seasons.
It is a real mix of art and science, wizardry and technology.
It was a gift to be the stewards of this project. There were 8 of us on the design/build team and the whole community gave support.
Those with websites are:
Ivan Mcbeth - www.ivanmcbeth.com, www.greenmountaindruidorder.org
Patrick MacManaway - www.Dragonlines.net
Bill Gottesman - http://www.precisionsundials.com
David Brizendine - www.MacDragon.biz
HAPPY LAMAS!
David
-
|2011-07-31 10:09:15 JaySpecial thanks for creating the earth clock, Mr. Brizendine and crew.
This is really cool and I'd love to see more of these at more parks across the USA and even around the world, really.
I think it would be great if people who enjoy the earth clock also had access to the information on the ancient mythology that went with the ancient observatories such as the work by Acharya S on astrotheology.
Mythicist Position
Zeitgeist Part 1
2011 Astrotheology calendar
-
|2011-08-08 19:16:31 scott - re:Jose wrote:Yeah, I really like this too. I want one! I like the idea of something like this to inspire young people to get involved with astronomy and the ancient myths that went with it i.e. astrotheology.
As an atheist/Freethinker, I'm reminded of this quote:
Quote:"ATHEISTS: There has been a recent increase in solstice observances by Atheists in the U.S. For example, The American Atheists and local Atheist groups have organized celebrations for 2000-DEC, including the Great North Texas Infidel Bash in Weatherford TX; Winter Solstice bash in Roselle NJ; Winter Solstice Parties in York PA, Boise ID, North Bethesda MD, and Des Moines IA; Winter Solstice Gatherings in Phoenix AZ and Denver CO: a Year End Awards and Review Dinner (YEAR) in San Francisco, CA."
http://www.religioustolerance.org/winter_solstice.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Winter_solstice
Keep up the great work, Acharya S.
i find religion bizarre but i find the atheist even more bizarre, you only exist because you belive there is no god, the term god was coined and should really be replaced with the word "force" , gods of the wind, rain, sun etc, the suppreme god being the one that the universe is made of, the life force of the universe, its present in everything, the chinese call it CHI, now to deny this energy exists its hillarious and puts you on the shelf with the rest of the peoples that have no understanding of knowledge and contradict them selves........i find religion and athiests funny to say the least! peace
This is the coolest thing I've ever seen. Thanks for blogging it Acharya S. I would never have heard of such a thing otherwise. I'd like to have one in my local area. They did a wonderful job putting the Burlington Earth Clock together. I bet the ancients would be proud of them. I'd love to see things like this become more popular.
I love that pic with the kid. I love the idea of kids being taught things like this. It would work perfectly for survival too. For example, imagine a solar flare in 2012 that wipes out the entire electrical grid - the Earth Clock would still be able to tell us the date and time without the need for electricity.
kudos