noun
- Plural of clepsydra; ancient timekeeping devices that measured time by the regulated flow of water from one container to another.
Usage: historical; also called water clocks
Examples
- Ancient Egyptians used clepsydras to measure the passage of time during the night.
- The museum displayed several clepsydras from different civilizations, showing how timekeeping evolved.
- Greek and Roman clepsydras were often more sophisticated than earlier Egyptian models.
- Before mechanical clocks, clepsydras were among the most reliable timekeeping instruments available.
- Scholars studied the clepsydras found in archaeological digs to understand ancient daily life.