Emily Carter
You're probably thinking of a weather vane, also known as a wind vane or a weathercock. Weather vanes are used to show the direction of the wind and are typically mounted on the highest point of a building. They usually feature a traditional cockerel design with letters indicating the points of the compass, though other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses. The oldest known example of a weather vane dates back to around 50 BC and was a bronze Triton holding a rod that pointed in the direction of the wind.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Weather vane, wind vane, weathercock |
| Function | Showing the direction of the wind |
| Placement | Highest point of a building, usually a roof |
| Design | Usually features a traditional cockerel design with letters indicating the points of the compass; other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses |
| History | One of the earliest examples of a weather vane was in the form of a bronze Triton holding a rod, dating back to around 50 BC in Athens, Greece; by the third century, Chinese weather vanes were shaped like birds |
| Largest weather vane | A retired Douglas DC-3 CF-CPY atop a swiveling support located at the Yukon Transportation Museum in Whitehorse, Yukon, Canada |
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What You'll Learn
Weather vanes are also called weathercocks
Those spinning metal things that indicate wind direction are called wind vanes, weather vanes, or weathercocks. They are typically used as an architectural ornament at the highest point of a building. The word "vane" comes from the Old English word "fana", meaning "flag". While wind vanes are partly functional, they are generally decorative, often featuring the traditional cockerel design with letters indicating the points of the compass. Other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses.
The Tower of the Winds in Hellenistic Athens featured a weather vane in the form of a bronze Triton holding a rod in his outstretched hand, rotating as the wind changed direction. This structure dated back to around 50 BC. By the third century, Chinese weather vanes were shaped like birds and were called "wind-indicating birds".
Early weather vanes had ornamental pointers, but modern weather vanes usually feature simple arrows. An early example of a modern weather vane was installed in the Royal Navy's Admiralty building in London. The vane on the roof was mechanically linked to a large dial in the boardroom so senior officers could always be aware of the wind direction.
Some of the largest weather vanes in the world include a retired Douglas DC-3 CF-PY atop a swiveling support at the Yukon Transportation Museum in Canada, and a Tío Pepe sherry advertisement in Jerez, Spain.
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They are typically used as an architectural ornament
The object you are referring to is called a weather vane, wind vane, or weathercock. It is a type of anemoscope used to show the direction of the wind. While weather vanes are partly functional, they are typically used as an architectural ornament at the highest point of a building. The word "vane" comes from the Old English word "fana", meaning "flag".
Weather vanes are generally decorative, often featuring a traditional cockerel design with letters indicating the points of the compass. The cockerel or arrowhead rotates freely and points in the direction from which the wind is blowing. Other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses. Not all weather vanes have pointers.
The earliest known example of a weather vane was in the form of a bronze Triton holding a rod in his outstretched hand, dating back to around 50 BC in Athens, Greece. By the third century, Chinese weather vanes were shaped like birds and were called "wind-indicating birds". Weather vanes spread throughout Europe, featuring prominently on towers and church steeples. They often included a cross or an image of a patron saint if they were on a church or cathedral.
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The oldest known weather vanes were in Babylon, 1800-1600 BCE
The objects you are referring to are called weather vanes, wind vanes, or weathercocks. They are used to indicate the direction of the wind and are typically placed at the highest point of a building as an architectural ornament. The oldest known textual references to weather vanes date back to 1800-1600 BCE in Babylon.
The "Fable of the Willow," an Akkadian fable written during this time period, describes people looking at a weather vane "for the direction of the wind." This is the earliest known mention of a weather vane in literature. The fable provides valuable insight into the ancient understanding of wind direction and its importance in the Babylonian civilization.
The use of weather vanes continued and evolved over time. In ancient Greece, for example, the Tower of the Winds in Athens featured a bronze weather vane in the form of Triton, the Greek god believed to rule the seas. This weather vane, dating from around 50 BC, rotated with the wind and was accompanied by depictions of the eight Greek wind deities. Ancient Romans also utilized weather vanes, and by the ninth century, the Pope decreed that roosters, or cockerels, be used as weather vanes on church domes or steeples.
The use of roosters as weather vanes held symbolic significance, representing the victory of light over darkness and warding off evil. Roosters were also seen as Christian symbols, referencing Jesus' prophecy that Peter would deny him three times before the rooster crowed the morning after the Last Supper. Thus, the use of weather vanes became intertwined with religious beliefs and practices.
The history of weather vanes is fascinating, with early examples appearing in various ancient civilizations and evolving into more widespread use during different historical periods. Over time, the design and functionality of weather vanes have also changed, reflecting the cultural, artistic, and scientific interests of the time.
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By the third century, Chinese weather vanes were bird-shaped
The objects you are referring to are called weather vanes, wind vanes, or weathercocks. They are used to indicate the direction of the wind and are typically placed at the highest point of a building.
Weather vanes have a long history, with the earliest known textual references to them dating back to 1800-1600 BCE Babylon. By the third century, Chinese weather vanes were bird-shaped and were called "wind-indicating birds" or "xiang feng wu" in Chinese. This name is derived from military documents from the Three Kingdoms period of China (220-280 AD), which refer to the weather vane as "five ounces" or "wu liang" due to the weight of its materials.
The use of bird-shaped weather vanes in China is described in a third-century book, the "Sanfu huangtu," written by Miao Changyan. The book mentions a bird-shaped weather vane on a tower roof in Chang'an, the ancient capital of China. This design may have originated from the importance of roosters in Chinese culture, as they have been the most popular vane motif throughout history.
Bird-shaped weather vanes also appeared in Europe during the same period. The oldest surviving weather vane in the shape of a rooster is the "Gallo di Ramperto," which dates back to 820 AD and is now preserved in Italy. The use of roosters in European weather vanes may have been influenced by Pope Gregory I, who regarded the cockerel as "the most suitable emblem of Christianity." This belief led to the widespread use of rooster representations on church steeples, as depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry from the 1070s.
Over time, weather vanes became more ornamental, with intricate pointers and motifs. However, modern weather vanes often feature simpler designs, such as arrows, as they are now connected to remote reading stations. While they primarily serve a decorative function today, weather vanes continue to be used by pilots and sailors to determine wind direction and are enjoyed as landmarks by locals and tourists alike.
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Weather vanes are also found on small wind turbines
Those spinning, direction-indicating, chicken-like objects are called weather vanes, wind vanes, or weathercocks. They are typically used as an architectural ornament at the highest point of a building, although they are also partly functional.
Weather vanes are indeed found on small wind turbines to keep the turbine pointing into the wind. They are also used on boats, where they are referred to as apparent wind indicators.
Weather vanes have been around for a long time, with the oldest known textual references dating back to 1800-1600 BCE Babylon. Over time, their design has evolved from ornamental pointers to more modern, simple arrows. They are often combined with an anemometer, a device that measures wind speed, to provide coordinated readouts.
In the context of wind turbines, weather vanes play a crucial role in ensuring the turbine faces the wind optimally. This is especially important for small horizontal-axis wind turbines (HAWTs), which rely on simple wind vanes to orient themselves into the wind. By contrast, larger HAWTs typically use wind sensors attached to AC or DC servo motors for this purpose.
The presence of a weather vane on a small wind turbine ensures that the turbine can effectively capture wind energy, as it remains oriented in the direction of the wind. This, in turn, helps to generate electricity efficiently.
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Frequently asked questions
They are called weather vanes, wind vanes, or weathercocks.
The chickens or cockerels on weather vanes are traditional and are often found on barns in New England. The rooster is usually placed on top of an arrow shape, which rotates to point in the direction the wind is coming from.
Other common motifs include ships, arrows, and horses.
One of the earliest examples of a weather vane was in the form of a bronze Triton holding a rod in his outstretched hand, rotating to point towards the wind direction. This was on the Tower of the Winds in Athens, Greece, and dated back to around 50 BC.
The world's largest weather vane is a Tío Pepe sherry advertisement located in Jerez, Spain. A notable tall weather vane is located in Westlock, Alberta, which is a classic weather vane topped by a 1942 Case Model D Tractor.
