Many "semi-ancients" had variable length hours from ancient Egypt right though to about the 14th century. Even after the introduction of mechanical clocks with

Many "semi-ancients" had variable length hours from ancient Egypt right though to about the 14th century. Even after the introduction of mechanical clocks with uniform hours, some systems counted from sunset, not noon. Eventually the noon reference became fixed upon, but it's only noon because it was easier to measure the shadow in that way. Other than a vague but unfounded sense of aesthetic need and the obsolete practically of synchronization with a sundial, solar noon isn't special.