The Baelo Claudia Sundial (1st c. CE)
Discovered in the forum of the Roman town of Baelo Claudia, this marble 'scaphe' is a pinnacle of ancient gnomonics. The concave hemisphere tracks seasonal hours through a complex grid of hour lines and solstice curves. Supported by elegant Hellenistic-style lion's paw feet, it functioned both as a precise astronomical tool and a monumental piece of civic architecture.
A magnificent sundial was placed in the city centre so that everyone could know the time of day and organise their activities. All they had to do was look inside the hemisphere and see where the shadow was cast by the sunlight shining through the opening at the top. Eleven vertical lines mark the hours, and circles indicate solstices and equinoxes. This sundial's grandeur reflects the city's importance and wealth.
Exhibited in the Madrid National Archaeological Museum, Madrid, Spain.