Most students probably walk by it several times a day, not knowing what it is and not even thinking about it.

Jessica Murdoch (sophomore-bioengineering) said she walks by it each day and never noticed it before.

Emily Meehan (freshman-bioengineering) thinks it's either a globe or a sundial.

The proper term to label the bluish-greenish sculpture in question is an armillary sphere. It was installed on the patio of Old Main in June 1969.

An armillary sphere is an ancient astronomical instrument consisting of a set of rings surrounding a sphere representing the Earth. It is used to show the position of the rising and setting sun.

The armillary sphere on the patio of Old Main appears as several interlocking rings. Roman numerals I through XII line the inner part of the largest ring, and astrological symbols of the zodiac are scattered on the outer part. The only hint at where this piece came from is the words "Class of 1966" sprawled on the side.

The piece rests atop a turtle base on top of a cylindrical base. Many students said they had never looked close enough to notice the turtle before.

Meehan said she thought that perhaps the turtle was simply there to provide stability, serving as a base for the rest of the sundial.

Sudhanva Gurumurthi (graduate-computer science) said it was representative of the turtle carrying the entire world on its back, based on an ancient myth.

According to the caption of a photograph that ran in the Pennsylvania Mirror on June 11, 1969, Gurumurthi's theory is accurate.

A caption states that the idea is based on "the myth that when Atlas grew tired, he placed the world he carried on a turtle."

In Greek mythology, Atlas was punished by the gods after a war and forced to carry the world upon his shoulders.

Daniel Berman, assistant professor of classics and Mediterranean studies, said that, according to some stories, Atlas tricked others into holding the world for him. However, nowhere in Greco-Roman myth was a turtle mentioned.

Berman also said he has seen other armillary spheres on top of turtles, and perhaps it is because in some Indian religions, a tortoise is mentioned as holding the world on its back.

Ronald Sinoway is perhaps the only person who can shed light on this matter. He was the class gift fund chairman for the Class of 1966 and a former class president. Sinoway was one of the students who suggested building a patio with a new sundial, to replace the one given by the Class of 1915. The group raised $5,800 for the gift.

Sinoway said he was not sure why a turtle was chosen as the base, but that it may be because of the spirituality of animals. He also said it was placed on the lawn of Old Main because "that is the heart of the campus."

According to an editorial in The Daily Collegian on April 1, 1966, the patio was the best choice for a class gift because it would "give Old Main lawn an extra touch of distinction and could conceivably provide students with a new focus point for rallies, folk sings and just about anything else."

The patio has served this purpose in the 33 years of its existence.