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Show Ancient Time. Tho early Egyptians divided tho day nnd night each Into twelvo hours, a custom adopted by the Jews or tho Creeks probably from tho Babylonians. Babyloni-ans. The day is said to have first been divided Into hours from B. C. 293, when a sun dial was erected In the tomplo of Qulrlnus at Rome. Previous to tho invention of water clocks, B. C. 158, tho tlmo wns called at Homo by public criers, In early England ono oxpodient of measuring tlmo was by wax candles, threo Inches burning an hour, Tho first perfect mechanical clock was not made until about A. D. 1250. Day began at sunrlso among most of tho northern nations, at sunset sun-set among tho Athenians and Jews, at midnight among tho Romans, as with us. |