Sundial

Category: Culture and Entertainment > Artwork

District: Lisboa > Oeiras > Barcarena > Nova Barcarena

Location

The sundial is located within the complex of the old Barcarena Gunpowder Factory, in the Nova Barcarena urbanisation, Oeiras municipality. This site, once a centre of industrial production, has been transformed into a vast green space, providing a tranquil environment integrated into the urban landscape. Its position invites a serene stroll and careful observation of the place.

An Ancient Time Marker

This unique piece is a remarkable example of human ingenuity in measuring time through solar observation. It represents one of the most ancient ways of recording the passage of hours, using the shadow cast by its gnomon under sunlight. Its presence in the complex of the old Gunpowder Factory invites reflection on the evolution of timekeeping methods, from the most elementary and natural to the most complex and mechanical.

Dialogue with Industrial History

The existence of this sundial at the Barcarena Gunpowder Factory is a silent testament to an era when the rhythm of life was dictated by nature, long before the prevalence of machines. In this place, where a crucial material for the country's history and defence was manufactured, the sundial serves as a link to the fundamental understanding of time and its uninterrupted passage. It is an opportunity to appreciate how light and shadow can reveal the secrets of the day, in a space that was once synonymous with intense activity and labour.

License: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/deed.pt