#gnomon

## Summary: The Desert Riddle & The Dune Survival

The conversation explores a cryptic riddle from the early 2000s, blending themes of desert survival, navigation, and the unpredictable mechanics of Dune video games (Emperor: Battle for Dune and Dune 2000).

## 1. The Core Meaning: Navigation by Geometry

The riddle describes a traveler using their body as a Gnomon (the vertical part of a sundial). In the desert, a person becomes a "living clock and compass."

* The Shadow: By observing the angles of their own shadow (the "ballet" of the sun), a traveler determines time and direction.

* The Danger: "Looking too high" leads to sunstroke ("poison"), while removing the helmet for relief is fatal.

* The Storm: When a sandstorm hits, visual cues vanish. The traveler must use the "Rose of the Winds" (aerodynamics) and sound echoes against structures like pyramids to navigate blindly.

## 2. Connection to Dune Games

The discussion highlights the non-deterministic nature of Emperor: Battle for Dune. Unlike many strategy games, the environment is a lethal third party:

* The Sandstorm & The Worm: Both can spawn randomly and destroy an entire base or army instantly, regardless of unit strength.

* Hardcore Survival: In Dune 2000, the difficulty stems from resource scarcity and aggressive AI, making every move a calculated risk—much like the "sober traveler" in the riddle.

------------------------------

## The Original Clue Text (Russian)

"Песок он шел как шелк и годы, шла пустыня сама по себе, шершаво шершень богомол и скорпион, шагали как наполеон. Пустыни шар огромный яд пустил по ветру их медали, отнял свободу речи, поддал он жажды круг… весьма весьма он был балет, пока не начался пируэт, но длился он недолго всмысле для пьянчуг и захватчиков долго треугл пирамиды ореол встремглавь пошел он вверх чудной чур не боишься ли ты враг взглянуть ты вверх осмелься но пот от шлема это яд смешенный с пешим маршем взгляд. Век бури полосы не видно. Мираж пустыня это ты. Весьма он быстр и финал лишь трезвый путник вверх он смотрит то скорпион он выше… ведь он солдат на поле боя лишь горяч пока он в пути оно обычно как все люди! хеопс он вот! а где же мавзолей… уйди…"

Clue

Keywords: Alcohol, Sand, Glass, Stupor, Mirage, Fever, Death.

Would you like to analyze the specific tactics for surviving a "base-spawn" sandstorm in Emperor: Battle for Dune?

clue orig:

алкоголь песок стекло дурман мираж беленая пелена горячка смерть.

в гллове крктится такая загадка песня без ответа про рог изобилия в частности это про алладина тюскажем так и пустынные игры. бутылки с песком… итак глупость зашифрованная:

«песок он шел как шелк и годы, шла пустыня сама по себе, шершаво шершень богомол и скорпион, шагали как наполеон. Пустыни шар огромный яд пустил по ветру их медали , отнял свободу речи, поддал он жажды круг… весьма весьма он был балет, пока не начался пируэт, но длился он недолго всмысле для пьянчуг и захватчиков долго треугл пирамиды ореол встремглавь пошел он вверх чудной чур не боишься ли ты враг взглянуть ты вверх осмелься но пот от шлема это яд смешенный с пешим маршем взгляд . Век бури полосы не видно. Мираж пустыня это ты. Весьма он быстр и финал лишь трезвый путник вверх он смотрит то скорпион он выше…» автор неизвестен. впервые услышал это где то в 2006 году

Ans:

The term gnomon (derived from the Ancient Greek gnōmōn, meaning "one who knows" or "indicator") refers to a physical or conceptual tool used to reveal information through shadow or geometric relationship. Scientificially, it is most recognized as the part of a sundial that casts a shadow. [1, 2]

## 1. Scientific & Mathematical Explanations

Across various disciplines, the gnomon serves as a fundamental measuring device: [3]

* Astronomy & Timekeeping: As the world's oldest astronomical instrument, a gnomon is typically a vertical rod or pillar. By measuring the length and direction of the shadow it casts, one can determine the time of day, geographical directions, latitude, and even the obliquity of the ecliptic. In a sundial, the gnomon's "style" is often aligned with the North Celestial Pole to ensure accurate time tracking as the Earth rotates.

* Geometry: A gnomon is defined as the plane figure remaining after a smaller, similar parallelogram is removed from a corner of a larger one. More broadly, it is any figure that, when added to a given shape, creates a larger version of that same shape.

* Mathematics (Number Theory): The Pythagoreans used the term to describe odd numbers ($1, 3, 5, \dots$) because adding an odd number of units to a square number produces the next larger square number in a "gnomonic" L-shape pattern. [4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

## 2. Literature & Academic References

The concept has been used metaphorically in literature to represent perception, critical observation, and the relationship between the visible and the hidden:

* Hugh Kenner: In his seminal work Gnomon: Essays on Contemporary Literature (1958), the noted critic uses the gnomon as a metaphor for the critic's role. He describes his essays as a "report on ten years' watching of shadows," where the literature acts as the gnomon casting a shadow that reveals deeper truths about the cultural landscape.

* James Joyce: The word appears prominently in the opening of Dubliners ("The Sisters"), where the narrator associates "gnomon" with "paralysis" and "simony." Here, it refers to the geometric definition—a shape with something missing—symbolizing the incomplete lives and spiritual gaps within the characters.

* Nick Harkaway: His science fiction novel Gnomon (2017) utilizes the concept of an observer or "one who knows" in a high-tech surveillance state, playing on the word's etymological roots as an "examiner" or "interpreter".

* Academic Journals: Gnomon is also the name of a prestigious international journal for classical studies, established in 1925, which provides critical reviews of research in archaeology, history, and classical philology. [11, 12, 13, 14, 15]

Would you like to explore how to calculate your latitude using nothing but a vertical gnomon and the sun's shadow at high noon?

[1] [https://www.collinsdictionary.com](https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/gnomon)

[2] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomon)

[3] [https://www.researchgate.net](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226725609_The_Astronomical_Gnomon)

[4] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomon_%28figure%29)

[5] [https://www.britannica.com](https://www.britannica.com/technology/gnomon-timekeeping-device)

[6] [https://www.gktoday.in](https://www.gktoday.in/gnomon/#:~:text=A%20Gnomon%20is%20an%20ancient%20astronomical%20instrument,of%20time%20and%20knowledge%20of%20the%20heavens.)

[7] [https://mathworld.wolfram.com](https://mathworld.wolfram.com/Gnomon.html)

[8] [https://dupageco-il-vetsmemorial.org](https://dupageco-il-vetsmemorial.org/reading-the-sundial/)

[9] [https://dupageco-il-vetsmemorial.org](https://dupageco-il-vetsmemorial.org/reading-the-sundial/)

[10] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomon_%28figure%29#:~:text=In%20geometry%2C%20a%20gnomon%20is%20a%20plane,a%20larger%20figure%20of%20the%20same%20shape.)

[11] [https://dalkeyarchive.store](https://dalkeyarchive.store/products/gnomon#:~:text=The%20gnomon%20is%20the%20part%20of%20a,report%20on%20ten%20years%20watching%20of%20shadows.)

[12] [https://archive.org](https://archive.org/details/isbn_9780839210382)

[13] [https://en.wikipedia.org](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gnomon_%28disambiguation%29)

[14] [https://www.jstor.org](https://www.jstor.org/journal/gnomon)

[15] [https://muse.jhu.edu](https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/article/968735/pdf)

graph

Behind the Scenes of The Sandman: Show-Side VFX Supervision

-> Watch VFX Trailer Minute 13:05

Ian will provide a behind-the-scenes look at what show-side VFX supervision entails. The presentation breaks down the full arc of production, from early prep and writers-room collaboration through production, post, and final delivery, emphasizing how VFX integrates with every department along the way. 

The talk also explores creative decision-making, budget and asset strategy, vendor partnerships, and the challenges of adapting expansive source material for television. 

This event is a great learning opportunity for students preparing to enter the industry and working professionals interested in how large-scale episodic VFX is structured and led. 

Presentation Highlights:

What show-side VFX supervision really looks like 

VFX transition from post-production to foundational discipline 

On-set collaboration + practical vs. digital choices 

Like imagine it in an AU where Gnomon manages to raise Duke, he could make a deal with his fellow immortal Ra's; Gnomon provides Ra's with an army of metahumans & in return Ra's trains Duke to become Gnomon's successor.

Could see Talia & Elaine becoming friends of sorts & even collaborating to get their babies out of danger which could lead to Elaine, Duke & Damian dipping to Gotham.