Portable diptych sundial 1593 - 1603

This portable diptych sundial, crafted by Hans Tröschel the Elder, encapsulates the 16th-century fascination with celestial order. The sundial is meticulously engraved with astrological symbols and numerical divisions. The radiant sun at the center is not merely a source of light, but a potent symbol, a celestial body whose cycles govern earthly life. Notice how the sun, a universal symbol of life and energy, is rendered here. Across cultures and eras, it has represented divinity and the cycle of life. Think of ancient Egyptian depictions of Ra, the sun god, or Apollo in Greek mythology. The sun maintains its central role, a beacon of hope and renewal in the collective unconscious. This sundial is more than a scientific instrument; it is a symbolic compass guiding us through time. The emotional resonance stems from a deep-seated human desire to understand our place within the vast cosmos. It is a symbol that has transcended civilizations, embodying humanity's enduring fascination with time, fate, and the cosmos.