History of Weather Vanes
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Meteorological instrumentation and equipment still use the weather vane or
wind vane. A weather vane must be equally balanced on either end of its axis
but unequal in the areas exposed to the wind. When the wind blows it must
catch the widest part so the weather vane will rotate into the wind at the point
of least resistance.
Earlier weather vanes were made of heavier materials and don't always react
to a slight wind. The earliest weather vane was on the Tower of the Winds in
Athens and honored Greek god Triton. Astronomer Andronicus built the
weather vane around 48 BC depicting the head and torso of a man and the
tail of a fish. In early times it was believed that the winds had power and many
wealthy Greek homes has weather vanes honoring the Gods. Mercury,
Aeolus, Hermes and Boreas.
Bronze weather vanes from the Vikings were around the 9th century depicted
animals and were used on ships and churches in Scandinavia.
Today weather vanes are lighter weight, copper or aluminum and react more
to the wind. Another common form of the wind vane is the wind sock. Many
airports today still use wind socks or aerodynamic weather vanes to detect
the wind.
Weather vanes are both functional and decorative adding distinction to many
homes around the world.
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