Ben Carter
Candle clocks are ancient inventions that were used to measure time. They were especially useful at night or on cloudy days when sundials were not effective. The height and width of the candle are fixed and marked at regular intervals, so that as the candle burns down, one can tell how much time has passed. The earliest reference to candle clocks occurs in a Chinese poem by You Jiangu in 520 CE, which describes six candles, each 12 inches tall. Another notable candle clock was designed by Al-Jazari in 1206, which included a dial to display the exact time.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height | 12 inches (30 cm) |
| Thickness | Uniform |
| Material | Wax |
| Markings | Consistently spaced |
| Time per candle | 4 hours |
| Time per marking | 20 minutes |
| Enclosure | Wooden case with transparent horn panels |
| Purpose | Telling time, setting alarms |
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What You'll Learn
Candle clocks were used when sundials were ineffective
Candle clocks were used as a time-keeping device before the invention of mechanical clocks. They were particularly useful when sundials were ineffective, such as at night or on cloudy days.
Sundials tell the time by using the Sun's altitude or azimuth to cast shadows that indicate the time. However, sundials cannot be used at night or when there is insufficient sunlight, such as on cloudy days. This is where candle clocks proved useful.
Candle clocks work by burning a candle with consistently spaced markings that indicate the passage of time. The height and width of the candle are fixed so that it burns at a constant rate, allowing for an accurate measurement of time. Each interval between markings typically represents a duration of 20 minutes, with each candle lasting a total of four hours.
To enhance the accuracy of candle clocks, some designs included a dial to display the exact time and a bayonet fitting to secure the candle in place. Additionally, a weight, pulley, and counterbalance arrangement could be used, causing a series of automata to display the time as the candle burned.
Candle clocks were considered effective for measuring time when sundials were not feasible. However, they were not widely used due to the expense of candles.
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The height and width of the candle determined duration
The candle clock is an ancient invention that was used to measure time. It is made out of a particular type of wax, whose rate of burning is known. The height and width of the candle are fixed accordingly, so it can accurately show the passage of the required duration of time.
A candle clock uses a candle as its main element for showing the passage of time. It has consistently spaced markings that, when burned, indicate the passage of periods of time. The markings on a candle are set to measure the passing of the hours. When a candle has burned the wax between two marks, an hour has passed.
The earliest reference to the use of candle clocks occurs in a Chinese poem by You Jiangu in AD 520. His device consisted of six candles, each 12 inches high, of uniform thickness, and divided into 12 sections of one inch each. Each candle burned away completely in four hours, making each marking 20 minutes.
A notable use of the candle clock was made by Al-Jazari in 1206 AD. His candle clocks included a dial to display the exact time and, for the first time, employed a bayonet fitting and a fastening mechanism. These clocks used a weight, pulley, and counterbalance arrangement to move a series of automata, which displayed the time. As the candle burned, it became lighter in weight, causing the counterweights to move and operate a complex mechanism that displayed the time.
The candle clock could also be converted into a timer by inserting a heavy nail into it at the desired interval. When the candle burned down to that point, the nail would fall onto a metal plate at the base, signalling the end of the time interval.
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They were used as alarm clocks
Candle clocks were used as alarm clocks in several ways. One of the most common methods was to place nails at specific intervals along the candle. As the candle burned down, it would eventually reach the nail, which would drop and make a sound, waking the sleeper. This technique was simple yet effective and did not require someone to keep watch through the night. The length of time it took for a candle to burn was fairly predictable, allowing people to determine where to place the nails based on the hours they wanted to mark. For instance, if someone wanted to wake up in three hours, they might place a nail three inches down from the top of the candle.
Candle clocks were also used by bakers, who often needed to rise before dawn to prepare bread for morning sales. They provided a dependable way to track the early hours in a time before precise timers. Travellers and merchants also used candle clocks during overnight journeys, sometimes setting up multiple nails to wake themselves at different intervals to stay alert and manage their time.
Candle clocks were an ancient invention, predating the mechanical clock, and were used across different cultures in China, Japan, and Europe. They were particularly valuable at night when traditional sundials and water clocks were impractical. The height and width of the candle were fixed so that it could accurately show the passage of the required duration of time.
The Anglo-Saxons attributed the invention of the candle clock to Alfred the Great, king of Wessex. According to the story narrated by Asser, his candle clock used six candles, each made from 12 pennyweights of wax, standing 12 inches (30 cm) high, and of uniform thickness. The candles were marked at intervals of an inch, and when lit, they were placed in a lantern made of wood and transparent horn to protect them from the wind. It would take 20 minutes for the candle to burn down to the next mark, and the candles, burning one after the other, lasted for 24 hours.
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The invention of candle clocks is attributed to Alfred the Great
The candle clock is an ancient invention, one of the earliest attempts at measuring time. It is a candle with consistently spaced markings that, when burned, indicate the passage of time. Candle clocks were used as early as 520 AD in China, with the first recorded mention of one appearing in a 6th-century CE Chinese poem by You Jiangsu.
The invention of candle clocks is often attributed to Alfred the Great, the 9th-century King of Wessex. According to Asser, who lived at Alfred's court and became his close associate, Alfred created a candle clock using six candles, each made from 12 pennyweights of wax. Each candle was 12 inches (30 cm) tall and of uniform thickness, with markings at intervals of one inch. When lit, each candle burned down in four hours, with each inch representing 20 minutes. The candles were placed in a lantern made of wood and transparent horn to protect them from the wind. With this device, Alfred was able to keep track of 12 days in managing his civic and religious duties, allocating equal portions of his day to various tasks.
While the precise beginnings of candle clocks remain unknown, they became popular in medieval Europe, particularly in monasteries, where they were used to mark prayer hours. Candle clocks were also used in ancient Egypt and Japan, with similar methods of measuring time employed in medieval churches. By the 14th century, more accurate mechanical clocks replaced candle clocks.
One of the most sophisticated candle clock designs was created by the Muslim inventor Al-Jazari in 1206. His clock included a dial to display the exact time and employed a bayonet fitting and a fastening mechanism still used today. Al-Jazari's clock used water and weights to achieve a consistent burn rate, improving accuracy.
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Al-Jazari's candle clock design was the most sophisticated
The candle clock is an ancient invention, one of the earliest attempts by humans to measure time. The height and width of the candle are fixed, so that it can accurately show the passage of time. Typically, a candle clock is a thin candle with consistently spaced markings that, when burned, indicate the passage of time.
Al-Jazari's candle clock design included a dial to display the exact time and, for the first time, a bayonet fitting and a fastening mechanism that is still used in modern times. These clocks used a weight, pulley, and counterbalance arrangement to move a series of automata, which displayed the time. As the candle burned, it became lighter, causing the counterweights to move and operate a complex mechanism that displayed the time. Al-Jazari also requested that the candle be made of pure wax, as the rate of combustion depends on the combustion material. He also determined the weight of the wick, which affected the burning rate and, thus, the time measurement.
Al-Jazari's largest astronomical clock, the "castle clock", was a complex device that stood about 11 feet (3.4 m) high and had multiple functions besides timekeeping. It included a display of the zodiac, the solar and lunar orbits, and innovative features such as a pointer in the shape of a crescent moon that travelled across the top of a gateway, operated by a hidden cart, and caused automatic doors to open each hour. Another innovative feature was the ability to reprogram the length of day and night to account for changes throughout the year.
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Frequently asked questions
The height of a candle clock is typically 12 inches.
A candle clock is a device used to measure time. It consists of a candle with regular markings that indicate the passage of time as the candle burns down.
The candle clock works by burning a candle with consistent markings that indicate the passage of time. Each marking represents a specific time interval, usually 20 minutes.
Candle clocks were used in ancient times before the invention of mechanical clocks. The earliest reference to their use is in a Chinese poem by You Jiangu in 520 CE.
