Early hours were not uniform in length (they couldn’t be, really, with a sundial). The Babylonians (and the Egyptians after them) divided day (daylight) into twelve equal regions and night (between sunset and dawn) into twelve equal periods, but day and night hours were not the same length, nor were those of successive days or nights.
Parasite was a kind of job: if you were rich you had a parasite or two who would accompany you when you were out and about. You paid for their food and upkeep and in exchange everyone could see how rich and generous you were.
The “stick” of the sundial is called a gnomon.
Early hours were not uniform in length (they couldn’t be, really, with a sundial). The Babylonians (and the Egyptians after them) divided day (daylight) into twelve equal regions and night (between sunset and dawn) into twelve equal periods, but day and night hours were not the same length, nor were those of successive days or nights.
Parasite was a kind of job: if you were rich you had a parasite or two who would accompany you when you were out and about. You paid for their food and upkeep and in exchange everyone could see how rich and generous you were.