What is a water clock? A water clock is a way of telling the time by allowing water to flow out of or in to a container.

Water clock

Ancient Greek water clocks. Notice the small hole at the bottom of each one.

Water clocks belong to the age before people invented clocks that worked with pendulums and springs. They work simply by measuring the way that water drips from one container into another, or by how fast the water drips out of a container after it has been filled. The container is marked in even divisions that might, for example, mark the hours.

Water clock

Ancient Greek water clocks. Notice the small hole at the bottom of each one.

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