A History of the Tower of the Winds or the Horologion of Andronicus Cyrrhestes
Tower of the Winds, Athens / Credit: National Geographic
Although we have typically discussed standard mechanical clock towers – the likes of Big Ben, the Zytglogge, and the Strasbourg Astronomical Clock – the question of how society kept track of time before mechanical horology is also an important one.
Rewinding back over 2,000 years ago, to 2nd century BCE, we arrive in Athens. In particular, we land upon the “Roman agora” which was a marketplace for the Athenians, as well as a place for political gatherings. The Tower of the Winds, our subject, can be seen below, located in proximity to the Athenian Acropolis and the Roman agora.
Modern day Athens. The Tower of the Winds seen on the north side of the Athenian Acropolis / Credit: Georg Zumstrull
Aerial view of the Athenian Acropolis. The name Acropolis is derived from Greek words ‘akron’, “highest point” and ‘polis’, “city”. / Credit: Jwitness Forum
Athenian agora A.D. 150. The Athenian Acropolis is shown in the top right while the Tower of the Winds is outlined in red. / Credit: Agora.acsa
The Tower was built by Andronicus of Cyrrhus, who was an astronomer and maker of celestial instruments. This is how it became known as the ‘The Horologion of Andronicus Cyrrhestes’. Although the precise construction date is still up for discussion – it was determined that it was completed sometime between 1st and 2nd century BCE.
The tower is of octagonal shape, roughly 42 feet tall and 26 feet in diameter. It is situated upon three steps, all carved out of pentelic marble. The roof was also created out of 24 slabs of pentelic marble, in a conical shape. What makes the choice of material so interesting is that the structure was created to have utilitarian value, and pentelic marble was typically used on royal temples like the Parthenon. Even more intriguing is that no one knows who funded this temple, as it was extremely lavish for the area compared to other buildings. The tower had two ‘Propylons’ which are entrance porches, as well as a cylindrical annex. At each entrance porch, there was two Corinthian columns on each end, showcasing a beautiful, simplified version of ‘Corinthian Order’ which was a popular architectural style at the time. Situated on the roof, it also had a bronze ‘Weathervane’. The weathervane was used to indicate the direction of the wind.
Tower of the Winds rendering and aerial view. / Credit: Agora.acsa
Corinthian columns at each end of the entrances. The columns were a simplified version of Corinthian order at the time. / Credit: Sir Banister Fletcher, A History of Architecture
How did the Horologion of Andronicus Cyrrhestes get the name “The Tower of the Winds”?
That’s due to personifications of the winds which are carved into the tower on each of the eight sides of the octagonal structure. The weathervane took on the role of Triton, which was a mythical fish tailed monster which held a rod and would direct its rod down to the structure in the direction of the wind.
The representations of the wind gods were each given a respective name, and each god carries a particular symbol to help identify them. The eight wind deities are named below pertaining to their unique direction: Boreas (North), Kaikias (Northeast), Eurus (East), Apeliotes (Southeast), Notus (South), Livas (Southwest), Zephyrus (West) and Skiron (Northwest). Under each deity was a sundial, these sundials had three ‘day curves’, which pertained to the equinoxes as well as each of the solstices. The combination of the day curves (which would change the length of shadow throughout the year), and the typical hour lines made the exterior structure act as both a calendar and a clock.
Wind deities indicating the direction of the wind, and the sundial lines pictured underneath. A bronze weathervane would have been situated on the top of the structure (not pictured). / Credit: Wikimedia Commons
The sundial acting as both a Calendar and a clock. / Credit: Astronomical Heritage
The tower also included a large water clock known as a ‘Clepsydra’. The circular chamber on the southern side of the tower (across from the two propylons) held two tanks of water. The flow of water from the elevated tank into the lower tank would have given the adequate pressure to power the clock inside the tower. This ‘Clepsydra’ – or water clock – retrieved running water coming down from the Acropolis, and the tanks were replenished every 24 hours. The Clepsydra was particularly useful in the night time when the (9) exterior sun dials could not operate, although it did run 24 hours per day. The large height of the structure (about 42 feet) was not a coincidence either – this was purposely done so Roman merchants could see the time, and the direction of the wind so they could better estimate when their goods would arrive by sea.
A depiction of how the Clepsydra operated inside the building. You can also see the sun dial markers on the exterior of the building. / Credit: Price & Noble
Early Romans in front of the Clepsydra. / Credit: Price & Noble
The tower had different uses in earlier times, specifically early Christian times. Later, during the Ottoman occupation from 1453-1821, it was used a tekke - a place of spiritual retreat, lodging, and character formation.
Ceremony in the Tower of the Winds during the Ottoman period. / Credit: Edward Dodwell
Starting in 1821, after a nine-year war, Greece was the first Ottoman province to achieve total independence. This marked the reclamation of Greece, and as such The Archaeological Society at Athens was founded in 1837 and began restoration projects, which led them to the excavation of the Roman agora and the Tower of the Winds. Modern day restorations have continued on the structure for many years, and it is now open for visitors to step inside the building.
The architectural design and function of the ‘The Horologion of Andronicus Cyrrhestes’ has inspired many buildings throughout the world which are respectful ‘homages’ to this structure. You can look to the Radcliffe Observatory in Oxford, England (18th century), the Torre del Marzocco in Livorno, Italy (15th century), the Temple of the Winds in Mount Stewart, Ireland (18th century), and the Sevastopol in Ukraine (18th century) for great examples of these homages.
Not only is the architecture of this structure not forgotten, but the horological and meteorological impact is remembered as well. With the height of the structure and the visible sundials, this was a very early example of a clock tower, however some historians also argue that this is the earliest example of a meteorological station in history!
By: Eric Mulder
The Tower of the Winds / Credit: Greece High Definition
Read more:
Cartwright, Michael. “Tower of the Winds.” World History Encyclopedia, March 31, 2017, https://www.ancient.eu/article/1044/tower-of-the-winds/.
Glowacki, Kevin T. “The Ancient City of Athens: Roman Agora & the Tower of the Winds.” The Stoa: A Consortium for Electronic Publication in the Humanities, https://www.stoa.org/athens/sites/romagora.html.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Andronicus of Cyrrhus.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andronicus-of-Cyrrhus.
Tagaris, Karolina & Fronista, Phoebe. “Ancient Greece's restored Tower of Winds keeps its secrets.” Reuters, August 25th, 2016, https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-archaeology-towerofwinds-idUSKCN1101OS.
“The Partheon.” Canadian Museum of History, https://www.historymuseum.ca/cmc/exhibitions/civil/greece/gr1130e.html.
The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica. “Andronicus of Cyrrhus.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Andronicus-of-Cyrrhus.
“Tower of the Winds, Greece.” Portal to the Heritage of Astronomy - UNESCO, https://www3.astronomicalheritage.net/index.php/show-entity?identity=90&idsubentity=1.
Delano Smith, Catherine. “Greece.” Encyclopedia Britannica, https://www.britannica.com/place/Greece/Greece-under-Ottoman-rule.
“Greek War of Independence.” New World Encyclopedia, https://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Greek_War_of_Independence.
“The Society.” The Archaeological Society at Athens, https://www.archetai.gr/index.php?p=content&id=1&lang=en.