The Cosmic Hourglass was not truly an hourglass.  It measured time in eons, not hours.

Much was contained with the Cosmic Hourglass.  Much sand was contained within the Cosmic Hourglass.  The sands of time.  And each grain of time was allotted to the elements of mortal life.  And so, some said, there were many sands within the Cosmic Hourglass.  The sands of sleep.  The sands of destiny.  The sands of joy.  And the sands of sorrow.  And a multitude more of sands. 

All that could be perceived, known, and felt by mortals was contained within the Cosmic Hourglass.

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