The Prague Astronomical Clock, also known as the Prague Astronomical Clock, also known as the Prague Orloj, or the Old Town Orloj, is one of the symbols and favorite attractions of the Czech capital. Every hour an impressive spectacle is staged here, which is watched by many tourists. The Prague astronomical clock adorns the Old Town Hall, which in turn is located on the Old Town Square. The Prague Orloi is the oldest such mechanism in the world. It still works and accurately displays astronomical data.
The oldest part of the clock mechanism and dial were created in 1410. Their authors are master Mikulas and scientist Jan Schindel.
The clock shows:
- three types of time - Central European, Old Bohemian and astronomical;
- zodiacal location of the Sun and Moon;
- sunrise and sunset times and moon phases;
- day and month of the calendar year;
- day of the week, non-working days and holidays of the Christian calendar.
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that every building had a negative influence, so it was decorated with various elements that were supposed to ward off evil. A rooster is depicted under the dome of the clock. According to superstitious tradition, when the rooster starts to crow, all the evil spirits run away.
Under the rooster there is a statue of an angel, and to the left and right of the angel there are two windows.
On the sides of the upper dial there are four sculptures: the first - a man with a mirror - personifies respect, the second - a man with a bag of money in his hand - greed, the third - a skeleton - a symbol of death. He holds an hourglass in his hand, which suggests that nothing is permanent. The fourth is a Turk in a turban with a musical instrument. According to one version, this is a symbol of the fulfillment of desires, and according to another - the Turkish threat to the Roman Empire, which included the Czech Republic.
Let's describe the upper dial in more detail:
1 – Current time, 2 – equator line, 3 – Sidereal time (Arabic numerals), 4 – Tropic of Cancer line, 5 – Dawn sector, 6 – Pointer with a star, 7 – Night sector , 8 - Old Bohemian time, 9 - Pointer with a golden hand, 10 - pointer with a sun symbol, 11 - pointer with a moon symbol, 12 - zodiac ring.
Now let's move on to the lower dial.
There are 4 statues on it. Let's trace from left to right: a philosopher holding a pen and scroll; Archangel Michael points his spear at the dial; Astronomer with telescope; Chronicler with a book in which important moments of history are recorded.
In the center of the dial is the coat of arms of Prague (during the time of King Vladislav II), on the small circle - 12 signs of the zodiac, on the middle circle - 12 months of the year with various images (including the birth of a child, plowing , sowing, reaping, harvesting, etc.), on a large circle. On the circle there are 4-sector 365 partitions. In each section, the number of the month, the letter indicating the day of the week, the names of Christian holidays and saints, and the days of remembrance of saints are written.
The clock rings every day - from 09:00 in the morning to 23:00 in the evening. At this time, a unique show is organized. Above we mentioned two small windows. The 12 apostles leave one window and enter another window. Jesus ends the procession. At the same time, 4 figures located on the sides of the upper dial also move: the skeleton turns the hourglass and indicates something to the Turk. The Turk shakes his head in refusal. The stingy one will lose the money bag, and the archangel will punish him with the sword as a sinner. At the end of the performance, a rooster is heard crowing.
Astronomical clock address: Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, Prague 11000.
To get to Old Town Square, take the green A metro line to the Staromestska stop, or take tram No. 2, 17, 18 to the same stop.
© 2019-2024 All rights reserved
Book your hotel cheaply!
Travel cheaply!
