SUNDIAL SECTIONS:

Sundials Home

History of Sundials

Why the Sun Dial keeps time

Developing and Making Sundials

Sundial Materials

Sundial Hour Lines Lay out

Sundial "Furniture"

Declination Lines of Sundials

Portable Sundials

Interesting Sundials of the World

SUNDIAL MATERIALS - Page 12

THE ARMILLARY

The armillary is one of the most flexible sundials, from the standpoint of design; and it is the best from the educational point of view. Every first-year student iin astronomy becomes familiar with its principle and form. The several rings portray the major circles of the earth in their proper relation to each other, the whole being symbolic of our universe. A small ball placed on the gnomon at the center of the sphere represents the earth, making this sundial a veritable primer of astronomy. Children take great delight in it and father generally is thankful for it, because it serves so well to answer many questions put to him by the youngsters. Unfortunately the armillaries generally look out of place, because they are poorly designed lack scale. However, it has no peer as a memorial, one of the finest of this type is described and illustrated in other Sections. The use and function of the armillary is so important that it is mentioned frequently in these pages.

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