How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

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biostem
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How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

In many media, they depict a clock or hourglass as a representation of time control. If a story was taking place in an era or setting that hadn't developed clocks or even hourglasses, how would you visually represent such a power as time manipulation?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Crazedwraith »

sundials? Or just the rising and setting of the sun.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Me2005 »

Crazedwraith wrote:sundials? Or just the rising and setting of the sun.
Beat me to it. Movement of the sun/moon/stars, it's what people used to tell time.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

Me2005 wrote:
Crazedwraith wrote:sundials? Or just the rising and setting of the sun.
Beat me to it. Movement of the sun/moon/stars, it's what people used to tell time.

Would you use a sun and star in the same sky or something? I thinking in terms of a still image, here...
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Batman »

Only works for time manipulation upwards of a few hours or so. How do you depict time manipulation on the minute/second level?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Broomstick »

water clock

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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

Broomstick wrote:water clock

So old their true origin is lost in prehistory. They predate writing.

I'm just picturing someone seeing a cup that looks like it's peeing and cracking up, instead of taking the chronomacer seriously.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

I just noticed that the article describes 2 types of water clocks - the ones where water flows into the vessel wouldn't fit the description from my previous post.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Simon_Jester »

Exactly what do you have in mind in terms of "portraying" time control? Do you need a purely abstract symbol to represent power over time? Do you need to represent some fixed, known amount of time passing?

Is this a purely realistic setting, or fantastic? Is it really prior to the invention of glassware?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

Simon_Jester wrote:Exactly what do you have in mind in terms of "portraying" time control? Do you need a purely abstract symbol to represent power over time? Do you need to represent some fixed, known amount of time passing?

Is this a purely realistic setting, or fantastic? Is it really prior to the invention of glassware?

I'm thinking in terms of:

Fire magic = flame symbol
Ice = snowflake
Water = water droplet or some sort of wave pattern
Earth = a rock/ground pattern
Air = cloud or tornado
Death magic/necromancy = skull
nature/plant magic = leaf/tree/seed

You can portray most "schools" of magic in a pretty simple manner, but some are too abstract for such an easy depiction. How would you portray gravity manipulation in a symbol or seal? How about metal manipulation or, like I mentioned, time?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Simon_Jester »

Point... but is the technology level of the world below that of, oh, ancient Rome?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

Simon_Jester wrote:Point... but is the technology level of the world below that of, oh, ancient Rome?
Well, I'm thinking of an alternate setting where timekeeping isn't really developed. I see your point, but I'm also trying to think of symbolism that doesn't rely on pieces of technology for their portrayal.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by GuppyShark »

Candle burning down?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Batman »

I seriously doubt candles predate hourglasses leave alone waterclocks.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Simon_Jester »

Why? Candles only require the use of fat or wax or other natural substances, plus a piece of string.

Hourglasses require a fairly precise exercise in glassblowing.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

Simon_Jester wrote:Why? Candles only require the use of fat or wax or other natural substances, plus a piece of string.

Hourglasses require a fairly precise exercise in glassblowing.

I think it's more that water clocks are older. I did a real quick search, and it seems candles as we know them came about in ancient China, but the bowl-with-a-hole-in-it style of water clock is older...
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Napoleon the Clown »

Is there a particular reason time-keeping never developed in this setting?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Zixinus »

Display phases of the sun and/or moon. A waterclock may exist but not be a familiar thing to most people.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Esquire »

An ourobouros, maybe? Something something control over ends and behinnings?
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by xerex »

A half sun/ half moon symbol. Or just invent a rune and say it stands for "Time " in this culture's language.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by madd0ct0r »

Hmm. Early society and small time units only?
Difficult when precise timing tends not to be something that matters much outside of cooking at this level of tech and trade.

I'd go with a drum, or equivalent used for marking the beat.
possibly a heartbeat or an animal associated with stoping and speddibg time. Something like a hummingbird or viper.

For the other two you said. Gravity and metal. Upside down pyramid and hammer respectively
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Simon_Jester »

I like the ouroboros idea.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by biostem »

madd0ct0r wrote:Hmm. Early society and small time units only?
Difficult when precise timing tends not to be something that matters much outside of cooking at this level of tech and trade.

I'd go with a drum, or equivalent used for marking the beat.
possibly a heartbeat or an animal associated with stoping and speddibg time. Something like a hummingbird or viper.

For the other two you said. Gravity and metal. Upside down pyramid and hammer respectively

Why I appreciate the input, I'm specifically trying to avoid depictions which rely upon using pieces of technology - I can depict fire without needing to go to a candle or lantern, that sort of thing.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by Knife »

The three phases of the moon could work for you, showing a progression through time of the moon in the sky.

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IIRC, a lot of ancient civilizations used the moon cycles for a time keeper in that one full cycle would be a 'month' type thing.
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Re: How to portray time control in pre-clock/hourglass eras?

Post by LadyTevar »

Either the Moon's Phases, or a variation on the Seasons. Perhaps a tree with buds, flowers, and fruit at the same time?
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