10 Ridiculously Complicated Ways People Used to Tell Time

10 Ridiculously Complicated Ways People Used to Tell Time

Before smartphones and wristwatches, telling time required a little more ingenuity—and a lot more moving parts. From burning candles with nails to intricate hydraulic machines powered by flowing water, ancient and medieval societies developed bizarrely creative timekeeping systems. These methods were often wildly elaborate, borderline ceremonial, and sometimes only accurate within a half-hour window. Still, […] The post 10 Ridiculously Complicat…