Copper Weathervane

A weathervane, wind vane, or weathercock is an instrument used as far back as Ancient Greece to show the wind’s direction to help predict the weather for farmers, fishermen, and ships. Weathervanes today are decorative and functional.

Weathervanes have been used as early as the first century B.C. in ancient Greece. The earliest weathervane on record was a bronze sculpture built by Andronicus in Athens. The instrument was mounted at the top of the Tower of the Winds and looked like the Greek God Triton, ruler of the sea. Triton was believed to have a fish’s body and a human’s head and torso. A pointed wand in Triton’s hand showed the direction from which the wind was blowing.