Old Town Square is the very place in historical district Prague, wearing poetic title Old town, where city residents have traditionally gathered for many centuries to celebrate holidays and memorable dates. The main attraction of this square is the Old Town Hall, which has been decorated with world-famous Astronomical clock Orloj (Pražský orloj).
They saw the light of day in 1410, thanks to the efforts of Mikulas Kadan with the participation of Jan Schindel, an astronomer from Charles University. At that time, the watch, like most other watches, had one dial, but 80 years later, thanks to the famous Prague watchmaker Jan Ruže, who is better known as Master Hanush, a second dial was added in 1490, and Gothic sculptures appeared on the facade. And in the 17th century, the composition was supplemented with figures of the apostles and other characters.
These noticeable improvements contributed to the fact that the names of the above-described authors of the Prague Astronomical Clock were forgotten for a distant 450 years. This was facilitated by the legend of Master Hanuš, which was later popularized by the writer Alois Jirasek in one of the stories “Ancient Czech Tales”.
The Legend of the Orloy Astronomical Clock
As we learned earlier, master Hanush greatly improved the watch by adding a second dial and Gothic figures. It seemed that the master had the right to live and make good for the rest of his life, relying on the gratitude of the mayor. According to legend, the mayor came up with the idea that Master Ganush, known throughout the world for his work and the Astronomical Clock, could make a clock in another city, and perhaps it would be even better than the Old Town clock. This could not be allowed under any circumstances, so as not to weaken the greatness of Prague, a decision was made to blind the master. They came to the unsuspecting master at night unknown people wearing masks. They quietly crept into Ganush’s room, opening the door with their key, grabbed and blinded him, and one of them said, leaving: “Now you won’t make another clock!” The master survived, but could no longer work. For long hours he sat in the corner of his workshop and thought bitterly about the gratitude that was paid to him for his work. All of Prague discussed the terrible crime with horror, but the villains were never captured. The blinded Ganush quickly gave up, he was no longer recognized on the streets, and the primator and city councilors turned away when they met. When the master felt that he was dying, he asked his student to take him to the town hall, went up into it and, under the pretext that he was going to check the mechanism, managed to ruin the clock and it stopped. Legend has it that Master Hanush stepped into the clockwork, thereby stopping the clock and his life. The clock is still for many years stood and no one could fix them. So the master finally took revenge on the ungrateful city for his blindness.
And today the Orloy watch, this truly unique and amazing creation of masters from the distant Middle Ages, has two dials. The upper dial is divided into several sectors. One of them traditionally shows the time - Old Bohemian and Central European. But other sectors are more original: dark brown, blue and light brown indicate the course of the day from have a bright day to dark night, the sun moves through these sectors. Using the Prague chimes you can also find out where the Moon is or what sign of the Zodiac the Sun is currently passing through, as well as determine the days of the equinoxes. And the lower dial, in turn, is a calendar. And how in an ordinary calendar you can use it to find out what month or day it is. This dial was decorated with scenes from village life, thanks to the efforts of the artist Joseph Manes in 1865. But today you won’t be able to see the original work on the watch: it has been replaced by a copy. And in search of the original you will have to go to the Prague Museum.
What is also amazing about this watch is that every hour you can see a small performance in medieval style. The apostles located in the upper windows begin their movement, and Christ appears behind them. The figures of Death, Merchant, Turk, Proud Man and Angel with a sword located slightly lower on the sides begin to follow. It is curious that the Merchant was originally a Jew, but now the figure has been replaced for reasons of political correctness. The performance is not just a meaningless movement of figures, it has meaning. The apostles from above observe the vices of humanity, Death rings the bell, then the Angel lowers the sword.
Orloy watches are not just one of the oldest watches in the world. They have been working without breaking for six hundred years and are the main clock of the country and one of the most interesting sights of Prague.
Representation of shapes
If you want to attend the show, it takes place every hour from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Old Town Square in front of the clock.
Be careful - there are pickpockets not only in your city, but also in the capital of the Czech Republic.
600th anniversary of the Prague Astronomical Clock
Hello friends! The Orloj clock in Prague deserves to be described in detail. The famous chimes of the Czech Republic have surpassed all similar clock mechanisms in the world in terms of their existence. Created at the beginning of the 15th century, they still function and show Central European time, as well as Old Bohemian and Babylonian.
But spectators rush to the Prague Orloj not at all in order to find their bearings in time. The astronomical clock is unique. They are simultaneously a work of art, a scientific-historical object and entertainment for visitors where they are located.
It would be more logical before going into detailed descriptions, provide an opportunity to look directly at the chimes, their action, and the many among which they are located. A short video will allow you to quickly plunge into the thick of things:
And now we can dwell on some details - who is involved in the astronomical clock, what symbols surround them, and why they are famous:
- How the Prague Orloj came to be
- Astronomical disk and time determination
- Symbolic images of chimes
Who and when created Pražský orloj
The first chimes appeared at the end of the 14th century, when Wenceslas IV ordered the installation of a striking mechanism on a Gothic tower that would emit signals after an hour had passed.
A little more time passed, and in 1410 the town hall tower was equipped with amazing astronomical clock.
Orloj was created by watchmaker Mikulas from Kadan, guided by the calculations and drawings of mathematician and astronomer Jan Schindel.
Master Hanush was called the Prague watchmaker Jan Ruže, who was directly related to the chimes of the town hall, but somewhat later. Master Ganush had not yet been born by the time Orloy not only regularly beat time intervals, but also gained European fame.
New facts regarding the author of the Prague Orloj have been discovered recently - after 1980. This is how history can lead us by the nose... For centuries, Prague residents believed that Hanush created the chimes, and passed on from mouth to mouth legends about how cruel city councilors ordered the master to be blinded so that he could not repeat his invention. Fortunately, this sophisticated medieval cruelty turned out to be only a legend.
But a document was found that recorded a generous reward to the inventor of the Prague Astronomical Clock, Mikulas from Kadan. The master was given a house at the Havel Gate and 3,000 Prague groschen, which was unusual at that time a large sum. Moreover, an annual salary of 600 groschen was assigned and guarantees were provided for property - in fact, copyright was protected.
The astronomical disk and how to determine ordinary time
For a long time, Orloy consisted of only one disk – the astronomical one. Actually, the mechanism was created for the needs of astrology, and not to tell residents the time. An astronomical disk is a special moving map of the sky, with which you can determine the position of the Sun, Moon, as well as their location relative to the zodiac constellations.
Imagine, this whole colossus is moving, displaying a lot of information, and we, modern residents, look at this disk and don’t even know how to figure out what time it is))) But now we’ll figure it out.
The Earth is depicted exactly in the center. The upper part of the disk corresponds to daytime - it is bluish in color. And the dark circle at the bottom is night. Twilight is indicated between day and night orange. Superimposed on this entire picture is a ring on which the signs of the zodiac are depicted, but the ring has nothing to do with determining time.
The present time is indicated by an arrow with the symbol of the Sun and a golden Hand. The only catch is that this hand simultaneously points to three numerical scales. And where is the one we need? Along the edge of the disk there are numbers in the form of some “squiggles” - this is Old Czech time. It is interesting that in this coordinate system the day ended with the onset of twilight.
The following digital symbols in Roman notation, also placed in a circle, are European time. Now you can easily determine what time I captured the astronomical disk in the photo.
There are also Arabic numerals - they are lower than the Roman ones and are depicted weaker. Arabic numerals make it possible to determine Babylonian time. It also includes that grid of golden curved lines diverging from the center of the disk. Fortunately, it is of no use to us, and there is no need to delve into these medieval indicators.
What else I would like to add regarding the installation of the astronomical clock is to mention the merit of the architect Petr Parler, who created a stone extension to the town hall where the chimes were placed. The stone decoration around the astronomical disk is also his work.
I repeat, determining time is almost a side function of Orloy. The main thing is to track the movement celestial bodies. And on the astronomical disk, the symbols of the Sun and Moon move not only in a circle, but also along the arrow. The disk with the zodiac also moves... From all this, experts read information. But in the Middle Ages they did not try to determine minutes. Residents of that time were not interested in such trifles.
In 1490, Orla was supplemented with another disc. The disk contained a calendar that included all 365 days in the form of divisions along the rim of the disk. The appearance of the calendar is precisely correlated with the activities of the master Ganush.
Each evening the calendar disk was manually turned one division, a practice that continued until 1566. Since then, the movement of the calendar board has been mechanized.
The attractive calendar disk that we see now appeared much later. IN mid-19th centuries, the clock needed major repairs. A fundraiser was announced for this worthy cause among the population of the Czech Republic. 4,265 gold were collected. And the best Prague artist of that time, Josef Manes, took on the design of the calendar disk for a modest remuneration. And although we see today only a recreated copy, it is close to the original:
Manes depicted the coat of arms of Prague in the center of the disk, and around it the original signs of the zodiac. 12 golden disks with images, which are arranged in a circle, make up the series of paintings “Twelve Months”. Each painting represents features of medieval rural life during a specific month. The day designation, as in earlier versions, is located on the outer ring of the disk. Where can I see what day it is? Look at the mark with a golden line at the top of the calendar. Both the date and the day of the week are indicated there.
Symbolic images of chimes
Of great interest are the figures installed on both sides of the astronomical and calendar disk. The sculptures near the top disk, as you noticed while watching the video, are set in motion during the chiming clock. It is believed that these images represent 4 vices, although this opinion raises questions.
On the right are the Skeleton and the Turk. The skeleton symbolizes death and reminds of its inevitability. Can this allegory be attributed to vices? This image appeared on the chimes first, back in the 16th century.
The placement of the turbaned figure next to the Skeleton is even more mysterious. The Czech Republic in the Middle Ages often used the image of the Turk in a negative context. So, for example, the plot “a raven pecks out a Turk’s eye” appeared on the coat of arms of the Schwarzenberg family. Perhaps in in this case The image of the Turk denotes vicious characteristics.
To the left of the astronomical disk are more understandable images. Allegories of stinginess and vanity are established here:
Vanity peers into the mirror, Stinginess shakes a bag of money. However, there are disagreements in the interpretation of these images. It is assumed that the one on the far left is the Magician, who studies the invisible worlds, which is associated with knowledge, not vice.
Below, near the calendar disk, the Philosopher and Archangel Michael are located on the left, and the Astronomer and Chronicler on the right.
These images of Pražský orloj are always in sight. But if you watched the video, you noticed the procession of the apostles, which takes place during the mini-presentation of the chimes. The windows above the astronomical disk on both sides of the sculpture of the Angel open and 12 disciples of Christ pass in front of us. And the whole action ends with the cry of the golden Rooster.
The appearance of the figurines of the apostles is associated with the reconstruction of the chimes in 1659. The figures are made of wood, so they had to be restored several times. The current company of apostles was created by the sculptor Vojtech Sucharda.
The last of the images to be installed in its place was the Rooster. Prague residents heard it for the first time on December 31, 1882.
In conclusion, I would like to say that Prague Orloj is a mystery object. However, this is not surprising. Astronomical clocks were created with the goal of displaying information that is not understandable to everyone. And they have such a long life that they cannot do without mysteries and legends. I assume, friends, that many of you have heard something interesting about the Prague Astronomical Clock. If so, tell us too.
Your euro guide Tatyana
Hello friends! For modern man A watch is a completely ordinary mechanism that we have to interact with every day and many times. We are used to watches, and many of us have been using gadgets for a long time, with additional convenient applications. Today we will talk about a huge gadget from the Middle Ages. The astronomical clock in Prague shows more than just the time. What else? What “applications” to clocks were important to people of past centuries, so much so that they “put” additional “programs” into the main clock of the city?
Attention! On January 9, 2018, the renovation of Orloj began in Prague. Now it will be possible to see them only in July 2018 (as the restorers plan).
Let's look at the unique mechanism of the famous Prague clock modern look. From the perspective of a user who is difficult to surprise with technical innovations. Moreover, a new product that has worked for 6 hundred years.
Model description
Prague Astronomical Clock Czechs call it Pražský orloj - Prague Orloj and also Old Town Orloj, since the clock is located on the town hall building. Accordingly, an orloy is an unusual clock mechanism with additional programs.
In addition to the time, this medieval clock shows:
- calendar data (current year, month, day)
- time of sunrise and sunset of the luminaries (Sun and Moon)
- position of zodiac signs
- moon phases
- The chimes interface includes a demonstration of time in three popular notation systems: Old Prague, Babylonian and Latin
- the model is an organizer. It includes important holidays and events of the year. The clock will remind you of them.
Additional features:
- ability to check time in 24 and 12 hour mode
- The watch includes 6 important “video clips” for people of the Middle Ages, warning against major sins, reminding us that the Last Judgment awaits us all and we need to prepare for it every day of our lives.
Note:
The watch was made in the 15th century.
Number of copies 1 (one).
Even now, in the age of advanced technology, the structure of the Prague Astronomical Clock is amazing. You can imagine how it impressed the residents of medieval Prague.
Here are some reasons why the Prague Astronomical Clock is always mentioned among the city's most important attractions.
- The clock has been working for 6 centuries.
To make this fact easier to understand, let’s compare:
America was discovered in 1492. The astronomical clock began working in 1410. Those. 80 years before the discovery of America. Russia at this time was emerging from under the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
- Some of the mechanism parts are still original, medieval, so the Prague Clock is a historical monument.
- If you wanted to know what an ancient astrolabe device looks like, take a look. The Prague Astronomical Clock is just that - an astrolabe.
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Instructions for users
Describing the Prague chimes is not an easy task. Firstly, they are beautiful and the eyes run wide, what to look at first, what to talk about. Secondly, all this beauty is attached to a mechanism consisting of many parts.
- Let's start with a large disk, in the center of which our planet Earth is depicted (11)
- On the same disk along the edge there are signs in Gothic script that denoted Old Bohemian times (1)
- Then there are Roman numerals. This is a familiar dial. Shows German time (2)
- Then come the Arabic numbers - 1, 2, 3, etc. They show Babylonian time (3)
- On the dial modern watches 12 digits. On Prague clock 24 (12+12 hours)
- Noon Above - XII (8)
- Midnight Below – XII (13)
- The left side of the dial shows the time from 12 midnight to 12 noon.
- The right half shows the time from 12 noon to 12 midnight.
- The blue color of the dial indicates daylight hours.
- Orange - dawn.
- Arcs labeled ORTUS and OCCASUS indicate sunrise (5) and sunset (10)
- Brown (dark) - night time, when the sun is hidden below the horizon (7)
- Upper (small disk) - shows the Zodiac (9)
- Zodiac signs move in a circle and along their own axis, completing a full phase.
- The arrow with the image of the Sun shows the time and what sign the Sun is in now (diurnal movement of the Zodiac) (4)
- Arrow with the Moon - shows what sign the Moon is in now (6)
- The photo shows 9 o'clock in the morning. The Sun is in Libra, the Moon is on the border of Capricorn and Aquarius.
- The Moon Ball has a separate rotating mechanism that shows the phases of the Moon.
- The arrow with an asterisk indicates the day of the vernal equinox. (12)
The entire disk and arrows rotate, corresponding to the real movement of celestial bodies across the sky. The clock indicates the position of the Sun, Moon, month and Zodiac sign. Those. Orloy is not only a clock, but also a calendar.
It is this mechanism that is of unique value, because he is the only one in the world.
Watching “video clips”
From 9 am to 9 pm, every 60 minutes, tourists and residents of Prague witness a real performance.
Four figures located on the side of the clock begin to move.
- The first of them, Death, symbolizes the frailty of everything that exists.
- A figurine holding a mirror is Vanity.
- Greed squeezes your wallet.
- And finally, the last figure is a Turk - a symbol of the danger that emanated from the Ottoman Empire for many years.
The little performance begins with Death pulling the string and the ringing of a bell. Death looks at the Turk, who just shakes his head. Greed clutches his wallet tightly with his hands, and Vanity admires himself in the mirror.
At the same time, the four figures on each side of the lower clock begin to move. These watches are also interesting, because they reflect the holidays fixed in the calendar and record important dates and information about days.
Above the astronomical clock, windows open, in which we see the apostles. The apostles have objects in their hands. The figures move, each of the apostles performs his action. St. Matthew threatens with an ax, Peter clutches the key.
And the performance ends with the crow of a rooster. The rooster sits at the very top of the composition.
History of the creation of Orloy
The first question that comes to the mind of any tourist who sees the Prague astronomical clock is: “who and when created such a complex mechanism?” To answer this question, let's go back to the Middle Ages. It was then, in 1410, that the oldest details of the chimes appeared. Their creators and manufacturers were Makulash and Jan Schindel.
By 1490, the device had a calendar dial, the creation of which was the responsibility of Joseph Manes. Around the same time, the first sculptures appeared next to the mechanism - examples of the Gothic style.
Of course, during its long history, Orloy stopped many times completely various reasons, was also put to work many times.
There were also tragic moments in the history of the clock, after which one of the most famous landmarks of the city had to be restored.
- The clock was first restored in 1552 by Jan Taborsky.
- The first moving statues became a decoration of the chimes in the 17th century.
- The figures of the Apostles were added later, in 1865-1866.
The chimes had to endure a difficult time during the hostilities of World War II. In the spring of 1945, it was severely damaged, and with it the unique mechanism. The greatest damage was caused to the sculptures of the apostles. Then they almost completely burned out.
In 1948, woodcarving master Vojtěch Sucharda began restoring the clock. At the same time, the clock mechanism also underwent a major overhaul.
Fact or Fiction
The history of the Prague chimes is connected with a legend about a master who created a complex clock mechanism. But the name of his century was not preserved. Perhaps it was Master Jan Rouge or Master Hanush. To ensure that Hanush would never be able to create something like this again, the city council (wow the topic of the meeting) decided to blind him. The ingratitude of the citizens became the reason for Hanush's revenge. What could he do without eyes? Destroy your mechanism. He walked up the steps of the town hall and threw himself into the complex mechanism of the chimes. This caused the clock to stop.
The legend cannot be considered one hundred percent fiction. The mechanism actually stopped many times. But, unfortunately, the Prague authorities could not always find the money to repair it. This happened in 1778 and it was decided to simply dismantle the chimes. Jan Landesberger, a Prague watchmaker, did not let this happen. He did the renovations with his own money.
This happened again in 1861. Then the clock was saved by the residents of the city. They raised funds to repair the mechanism and again the pride of the city was preserved for posterity.
From the end XIX century The chimes are repaired by the Heinz company.
You can hear and see the clock strike from 9 am to 9 pm every day, every 60 minutes.
You can see the figures of the Apostles up close and see part of the clock mechanism by taking a tour of the town hall. There, take the elevator to the top floor and lean against the glass door.
Video about the Prague Orloj. In this video you can see the clock mechanism and figures up close. In Czech.
How to get there
- by metro. To the Old Town Square station
- by tram. Nos. 17, 18, 53 to the Staroměstská stop. Once you get there, look for the Old Town municipality.
Sightseeing tour of Prague
To get a holistic impression of Prague, you can use the services of a professional Russian-speaking guide. This will save time, and a specialist will tell you more than a regular guidebook.
Prague Astronomical Clock on the map
Address: Staroměstská radnice, Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, 110 00 Prague 1
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Prague is decorated with the ancient tower of the Old Town Hall, which invariably attracts the attention of travelers. Indeed, on the southern wall of the town hall tower there are the most famous watches in Prague and the oldest operating astronomical clock in the world. This stunning mechanical miracle is called the Prague Astronomical Clock, or Orloj. Astronomical clock is one of the.
The first mention of a clock on the town hall tower dates back to 1402. But these were not the Prague Astronomical Clock that we know today. The predecessor of the famous Astronomical Clock of Prague managed to work for only a short time. The clock was so poorly maintained that it had to be replaced already in 1410. Then the oldest part of the Prague Astronomical Clock appeared on the wall: an astronomical dial with a mechanical clock. They were made by master Mikulas from Kadan.
For a long time, it was generally accepted that the author of the Prague Astronomical Clock was the watchmaker Jan Ruže. There was even a legend that Hanusha, as Jan Rouge is also known, was blinded so that he could not surpass himself in subsequent works. In fact, Ganush made significant repairs to the clock mechanism, installed a calendar dial below and created a moving figure of Death. This happened in 1490.
In the 17th century, the Astronomical Clock in Prague underwent another significant reconstruction. The beating mechanism was lowered directly to the chimes, new wooden figures were added and a mechanism was developed to show the phases of the moon.
During the existence of the Prague Astronomical Clock, it was not always possible to adequately maintain the clock mechanism. As a result, Orloy often stopped, and in the 18th century the clock did not work for decades. During the reconstruction of the town hall in 1787, they even wanted to throw them out, but enthusiasts opposed this and achieved repairs.
The most serious damage hours occurred in 1945. A German shell hit the town hall tower, causing a fire. The calendar dial and wooden figures were destroyed, and the astronomical dial fell down. Of course, the residents of Prague did not want to remain without Orloy and already in 1948 the clock was completely restored. Now their device contains almost three-quarters of the antique parts.
The upper, astronomical dial of the Prague Astronomical Clock shows four types of time with amazing accuracy: ancient Babylonian, Old Bohemian, modern Central European, and also sidereal, used only in astronomy. Using this dial you can observe the movement of the sun and moon among the constellations of the zodiac circle, monitor the phases of the moon, the time of sunset and dawn. On the sides of the dial there are interesting figures. On the left you will see allegories of human vices: Vanity and Pride. On the right stands Death, telling people what the passage of life leads to, and the Turk, whose image is considered the embodiment of sinful earthly pleasures and a reminder of the Turkish threat.
The lower calendar dial shows the days of the week, exact date, holidays. A calendar dial that is itself a picturesque masterpiece, are decorated on the left with figures of the philosopher and Archangel Michael, and on the right with the astronomer and chronicler.
The astronomical clock in Prague is famous not only for its amazing story and a unique appearance, but also an extraordinary performance that takes place here every hour from 8 am to 8 pm.
At the top of the chimes, next to the stone figure of an angel, you can notice two windows. At the beginning of each hour they open, the figures of the apostles appear from them and their amazing procession begins. Each of the apostles holds in his hands a certain attribute, a symbol. For example, this is the key to Paradise from St. Peter, and the spear from the Apostle Thomas.
When the procession of the apostles takes place, the figures next to the astronomical dial also move: A vain man looks in the mirror, a Miser shakes a bag of money... What attracts the most attention is Death turning over hourglass, ringing a bell and nodding her head, reminding us of the transience of life. The figure of a rooster located on top signals the end of the performance: when the Rooster crows, the figures freeze until the next hour, when the mini-performance will be repeated again.
The incredible spectacle of the astronomical clock attracts many tourists. It can be seen every hour. At the signal of the skeleton-Death bell, the ancient chimes play a melody that sets in motion Vanity, Greed, Death and Lust, followed by a procession of 12 apostles.
The Old Town Astronomical Clock or Prague Astronomical Clock, Prague Orloj (Pražský orloj) is located on a tower completed in 1364. The height of the four-story tower with a bypass gallery and corner turrets is 69.5 m.
History of watch creation
The tower has always been a symbol of the city. In 1410, an astronomical clock was installed on it, created by the royal watchmaker Mikulas from Kadan and astronomer Jan Schindel, master of the University of Prague. Around 1490, this unique clock was repaired and added to by the master Hanush of Rosa. There had been nothing like this in Europe before that time.
Probably around 1659 the clock was supplemented with wooden polychrome figures. The allegories “Avarice,” “Fashion,” and “Voluptuousness” recall vices, while Archangel Michael with a shield and a fiery sword from the scene “ Last Judgment"reminds one of the most important virtues - Justice. The astronomical clock consists of three parts located one above the other: the procession of the apostles, the dial of the astronomical clock and the calendar.
Every hour the apostles and Jesus Christ blessing them pass before the audience, every hour a skeleton ringing a bell reminds us that another hour of our earthly wandering has passed.
Clock design
The astronomical dial depicts the Earth as it was imagined by supporters of geocentrism, and the center of the dial indicates geographical location Prague. The surface of the dial depicts the universe - day, dawn, dusk and night. Three golden circles move around the sphere, representing the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, as well as the equator.
The calendar consists of a copper circle divided into two circular rings. In the inner ring there is a circle with twenty-four medallions made Czech artist Josef Manes in 1866 (copies are now there). In medallions smaller sizes the signs of the zodiac and the seasons are depicted, in large ones - scenes from the life of peasants.
It is noteworthy that, despite numerous repairs, the original design of the Old Town Astronomical Clock has been preserved.
How to get there
Take metro line A to Staroměstská station.
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