Lately I have found myself considering the origins of the phrase “clock hands”, likewise “hands of time”. Why “hands”?

Seemingly the origins of the clock “hand” is a term that even horologists wrestle with in their own minds. Some have suggested these pointers on early clocks looked like a hand, but it’s a weak argument, whilst others have “pointed out”, these pointers arguably looked more like fingers than “hands”.

So the question remains “why hands”?

Greek history

To get a feeling for the origins we may need to consider time itself, starting with “hours” (considering our early analogue clocks had no minute hand, let alone consideration of a third second hand). In particular, possibly best to consider the Horologion of Andronikos Kyrrhestes in Athens, otherwise called “The Tower of The Winds”, thought by some to be the world’s first meteorological station.

The Horae

Considering the etymology of the word horologion, the Greek word ώρα (hôra) can mean “time” or “hour”, this word thought to stem from Greek mythology – the Horae were considered to be the goddesses of the seasons or hours. Farmers in particular would have honoured/acknowledged the Horae as there would have been recognised times to sow, a time to water, to harvest and uproot.So the twelve hours of our analogue clock face, “the hours” can clearly be linked back to Greek mythology.

Observing the twelve

As an aside it is perhaps an interesting observation if you stand with your arm stretched out forward, and make a fist held up to horizon, keep your gaze held forward (trying not turning your head left or right too much) you can usually count around 12 fists as you move your arm from left to right across the horizon. I never knew that, but think it’s pretty cool.

Possibly a pure coincidence, but it may be worth noting the bible also features twelve disciples (possibly more likely they represent the 12 tribes of Israel, nevertheless also 12 points in time) – see later reference to canonical hours.

Hands that tell time

Others have already documented how to tell the time, not with clock hands, but human hands, for example:

• https://modernsurvivalblog.com/survival-skills/how-to-determine-remaining-daylight/
• https://www.timeanddate.com/astronomy/measuring-the-sky-by-hand.html

Before the advent of suitable mechanical devices for time measurements, it is possible, some might say even probable that human hands could have been used for measuring time. Be that as it may it still doesn’t fully explain explain the humble “clock hand” or “hour hand”, and for that we may need to consider something called “canonical hours” (more about this to follow).

The bells, the bells

No nothing to do with Quasimodo! During the 4th century Bishop Paulinus of Nola was inspired by the use of bells in pagan temples and believed that bells could be used to call people to prayer and mark the hours of the day. In the 7th century that Pope Sabinia sanctioned the use of church bells during worship, but it wouldn’t be until the 13th/14th century that fully mechanical “clock” or ”bell” towers became more popular, their purpose was not purely “to tell the time” important as that was, but rather more served the purposes of making an announcement – a calling to public events or particularly religious services.

Canonical hours

And so back to the canonical hours, the importance of the “hours” is evident in both:

• Greek mythology
• The early Christian church

From the Roman Catholic church the Liturgy of the hours, canonical hours or Opus Dei (“Work of God”) is clearly evident.

The hand of God?

All of this made me recall another term “the hand of God” of course not a literal hand but rather more a metaphorical hand. I feel beyond any doubt that this religious observance or “Opus Dei”, surely considered and reflected on the work of God’s hand. The “hand of God” if you will.

Postulate

In a sense although no absolute proof, it is possible, even probable that ye olde “clock hand” might, just might, be an indirect reference to the “hand of God” or the “hour of God”.

At very least it does appear that both the “hand of God” and also the “clock hand” have a commonality in the sense that “hand” appear to have some other non-literal sense, however metaphorical.

If as I think may well tend toward an almost plausible explanation in the sense of an annunciation (by the bells) of the hour, to reflect on works by the hand of God.

It is perhaps then an indication of how “busy” modern life has become that there is now little or no recognition of the origins of the term “clock hand”? How often we hear the words “not enough hours in the day” (more Horae needed? Ok maybe not! )

Having said that, I do sense perhaps the church of yesteryear, indeed more the mediaeval church may have had a greater sense or understanding of such things perhaps.

Although not as ancient some of the 19th century hymn writers clearly reflected on this sense of God, of time, of a hand in the words of Edward Plumptre’s “Thy Hand O God has guided”.

Whilst I have only scraped the surface in terms of the origins of the “clock hand”, in closing I would draw your attention to a different website which touches on the notion of a “prayer clock” and appears to echo some of my own findings. https://24x7prayerclock.wordpress.com/events/prayerclock-in-history/