> In Roman cities, the bell in the forum rang the beginning of the business
day at about six o'clock in the morning (Prime, the "first hour"), noted
the day's progress by striking again at about nine o'clock in the morning
(Terce, the "third hour"), tolled for the lunch break at noon (Sext, the
"sixth hour"), called the people back to work again at about three o'clock
in the afternoon (None, the "ninth hour"), and rang the close of the
business day at about six o'clock in the evening (the time for evening prayer).