How do these Spanish lions help people tell the time?

The Alhambra Palace in Granada is a masterpiece of medieval engineering, as well as a visually stunning piece of architecture.   At its center is the Fountain of the Lions – a water clock that announces the time by activating twelve lions in turn to spray water hour-by-hour until midday, when it completely resets.   The fountain operates via a sophisticated, precisely calibrated siphon system, combined with a water bowl with holes at exact heights to allow water to stream to each lion at the correct time.   This is a true testament to the pioneering mindset of the Palace’s 14th-century architects.