Encyclopædia Britannica, Ninth Edition/Andronicus of Cyrrhus

ANDRONICUS of Cyrrhus, a Greek astronomer, about B.C. 100, built at Athens an octagon tower, with figures carved on each side, representing the eight principal winds. A brazen Triton at the summit, with a rod in his hand, turned round by the wind, pointed to the quarter from which it blew. From this model is derived the custom of placing weathercocks on steeples. A consider able portion of this tower still exists ; and, instead of "tower of the winds," it should be called horologium, the name by which it is designated by Varro.