This was done for castles, forts, and walled cities starting about twenty one or twenty two hundred years ago.
“All is well” was was the report of the guard— the time was based on the start at noon— the sun directly overhead, and was “Stroke of Noon and all is Well.” The time was set by an hourglass, and it was upended at the stroke of noon, the call to the guard went out when the sands were running out, and if all guards reported all was well one of twelve balls was moved from one side of the hourglass to the other and the cry was “Stroke of One, and all is Well.”
That was kept up until the twelve balls were moved to the other side, then it was “Stoke of Midnight, and all is Well.” The hourglass was turned over, the first ball was moved back, and one came to pass, then two, and finally, the “Stroke of Noon and all is Well” was proclaimed again.
This was done for castles, forts, and walled cities starting about twenty one or twenty two hundred years ago.
“All is well” was was the report of the guard— the time was based on the start at noon— the sun directly overhead, and was “Stroke of Noon and all is Well.” The time was set by an hourglass, and it was upended at the stroke of noon, the call to the guard went out when the sands were running out, and if all guards reported all was well one of twelve balls was moved from one side of the hourglass to the other and the cry was “Stroke of One, and all is Well.”
That was kept up until the twelve balls were moved to the other side, then it was “Stoke of Midnight, and all is Well.” The hourglass was turned over, the first ball was moved back, and one came to pass, then two, and finally, the “Stroke of Noon and all is Well” was proclaimed again.