Wednesday, March 4, 2009

Sine Sole Sileo

Sundial, LivornoThis elaborate sundial decorates the façade of the local Technical Nautical Institute “Alfredo Cappellini” in “Piazza Giovine Italia”.
The Institute has its roots in a Nautical School, established in 1766 by the Grand Duke Peter Leopold of Lorraine for the instruction of seamen. Founded by Decree on 13 December 1863, the school was the first technical institute in the Province of Livorno.
The Latin inscription “sine sole sileo” means that without the sun I am silent. We have already seen something similar in another post about a sundial.

11 comments:

Tash said...

It's painted on tile! Really interesting and well done.
Your Neptune is so similar to the Bologna fountain which of course is so similar to the one in PV. Thanks for providing the link.

rob said...

Grazie. Spero ci siano altri orologi solari in città affinchè tu possa continuare la collezione di foto ed istruttive frasi latine.

VP said...

Rob, ne avrei un altro paio, ma sono realmente brutte e senza scritte latine.
Oltretutto io in latino avevo un voto molto, molto basso...

Marcel said...

I love the latin comments. In understand why the Technical Nautical Institute is founded in Livorno... a port.

I googled "Tsunami" by Hokusai and you are right. I knew I must have seen it before... :)

Cheers from Marcel

cieldequimper said...

Beautiful sundial, and such a fitting inscription. Without the sun we do not exist.

Lowell said...

That is truly a piece of art! Nicely photographed, too. And the history lesson was excellent!

Jane Hards Photography said...

Those words are so true.

Julie ScottsdaleDailyPhoto.com said...

great title and interesting history. i like sundials and this one is unique. I am glad you enjoyed the Frank Lloyd Wright colorful spire on my site. I will start displaying photos of Taliesin West soon.

amatamari© said...

Bella immagine, unione di mare e di sole, lingua antica e presente...

grazie!

stromsjo said...

Much like some birds I could mention. The sunnier weather we have, the happier and noisier they are.

Those Grand Dukes must have been pretty busy.

Lowell said...

I remember the previous post. This is also beautiful. The early navigators needed the sun, even as we do today!