Ask a Teacher

A water clock is a timekeeping device that uses a flow of water to measure time. It is not as accurate as most modern time-keeping devices, but when these clocks were first developed, they were quite adequate for the times.

Water clocks may have originally been developed for the purpose of making astrological observations, when the passage of time can become an important factor. They were also apparently used to measure the passage of time during speeches and other events.