This Famous Monument’s Completion Is Marked On A 26,000-Year Star Map
The barely noticed dedication challenges our standard idea of time with science and art
“The historic mission of sculpture is…to evoke a pungent realization of man and to make this realization nearly imperishable against the oblivion imposed by time. It may also shape a symbolism in human form in order to convey the very best within the reach of the aspirations and endowment of the race.”
— Oskar J. W. Hansen, Sculptures at Hoover Dam, US Bureau of Reclamation, 1978
We currently have a short-sighted view of time. I think it derives from two factors: our limited lifespans and the units we regularly use to measure time.
The average human life lasts less than a hundred years. Because this period is so short, we’re attracted to measurements like seconds, minutes, hours, and years. These are ideal for tracking our birthdays and important life events.
However, they lose something in translation when we calculate much greater ages. For instance, the earth is thought to be 4.5 billion years old. That’s so far from our standard human use of time that it’s almost incomprehensible.
