The sundial

 
The idea of using the shadow projected by a style (gnomon) to measure time is so old that goes further than history and loses itself in men's prehistory. During various ages sundials and solar clocks in general have changed with techniques, in their purpose, in decorations and in mottos which went with them. Therefore, they are true witnesses of history and custom of all ages and areas.

Nowadays, men seem not to remember this kind of instrument; as a matter of fact, a lot of sundials are not under maintenance, others disappear because of an hasty repair while it is really rare to see the making of a new one. Yet, this instrument still fascinates a lot and it is gifted with even modern features because it does not use power, it does not get consumed, it does not need any batteries and it does not pollute.

The mottos reported on some sundials are also very interesting; they are often Latin mottos or dialect mottos. One of the most recurrent one is "hora non numero nisi serenas", while another one which is very reflective is "vulnerat omnes ultima necat".

The sundial of Villa Castelbarco is in French hours (i.e. hours are counted as nowadays) which is the most spread kind of sundials in which the graphic looks like an upside down fan and midday is indicated by a vertical prominenced line, in this case by an arrow. This kind of sundials have been introduced in the VIII century by Napoleonic laws which were to substitute local systems. Villa Castelbarco's sundial allows to see hours from before nine a.m. to three p.m., and it is even easy to appreciate the ten minutes.

It is also possible to see the seasons, thanks to the cross line, which is the equinoctial line where the sun moves in two particular days of the year which are the spring equinox (21st of March) and the autumn equinox (23rd of September) and the highest line indicated on the right with a stylised Capricorn sign which shows the winter solstice (22nd of December) and the indication on the extreme left of the Cancer sign to indicate the Summer solstice (21st of June).

Surely there would be many more things to say about sundials in general and this one in particular but the purpose of these lines is to make Villa Castelbarco's visitors to observe the sundial which still fascinates with its apparently simple but full of contents lines.