Mystical Rhythm of the Night

Immerse yourself in an atmosphere of antiquity, where the night came alive through a system of military watches! In Roman and Greek traditions, the night was measured not by numbers but by organized periods, each moment holding its own special significance. Historians tell us that the third and fourth watches, which made up the night, carried deep symbolism – it was the fourth hour, even though a modern perspective might see it as morning, that remained part of the night until the roosters began to crow. This system imbued the night with a unique mystical energy: the transition from darkness to dawn was not instantaneous, but gradual, filled with anticipation and a distinct rhythm of existence. Modern science might be surprised that ancient thinkers understood day and night so poetically and precisely, intertwining military time and natural cycles. Such a perception of time reminds us of the importance of appreciating and experiencing every moment, for even the seemingly insignificant moments in history can reveal the richness of cultural and emotional heritage.
How should one perceive the 4th hour: as the beginning of morning or as a continuation of the night?
Based on the examination of ancient systems for measuring the night, the following can be said. In Roman and Greek traditions, the night was divided into watches, and according to one source ( link ), "the midnight included the 3rd and 4th military watches," with the beginning of the fourth watch occurring before the roosters crowed. That is, even if a modern view might interpret 4 a.m. as early morning, in the historical context the fourth hour remained part of the night, because morning, or the start of the day, only arrived with the crowing of the roosters.

Thus, in the described system, 4 a.m. is seen not as the onset of morning, but as a continuation of the night.

Supporting citation(s):
"Historian Pliny defines the beginning of the 3rd watch at midnight, and the beginning of the 4th – with the crowing of the roosters. Frinik complements Pliny's account, stating that 'midnight' (sic: μεσαι νυκτε) lasted from the 3rd or 4th hour of the night until the crowing of the roosters or 'morning'... thus, 'midnight' included the 3rd and 4th military watches. The meaning of the Greek word ορθρο changed over time and did not always carry the same significance... In ancient times, the word ορθρο denoted a long period of time, lasting from the crowing of the roosters, when it was usually still dark, until the very beginning of the day, i.e., throughout the 4th watch of the night." (source: link )