Hello, friends! The Orloj clock in Prague deserves to be told in detail. The famous chimes of the Czech Republic bypassed all similar clockworks in the world in terms of the duration 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 viewers are rushing to the Prague Eagle not at all in order to get their bearings in time. The astronomical clock is unique. They are at the same time a work of art, a scientific and historical object and entertainment for visitors, where they are.
It would be more logical, before embarking on detailed descriptions, to provide an opportunity to look directly at the chimes, their action, and at those numerous ones among which they are located. A short video will quickly plunge into the thick of things:
And now you can dwell on some details - who is involved in the astronomical clock, what symbols surround them, and what they are famous for:
- How the Prague Orloj appeared
- Astronomical disc and timing
- Symbolic images of chimes
Who and when created Pražský orloj
The first chimes did not appear at the end of the 14th century, when Wenceslas IV ordered to install a percussion mechanism on the Gothic tower that emits signals after an hour.
A little more time passed, and in 1410 the town hall tower was equipped with an amazing astronomical clock.
Orloi was created by watchmaker Mikulash from Kadani, guided by the calculations and drawings of the mathematician and astronomer Jan Shindel.
Master Hanus was the name of the Prague watchmaker Jan Ruzhe, who was directly related to the chimes of the town hall, but somewhat later. Master Ganush had not yet been born by the time Orloi not only beat time intervals regularly, but also won European fame.
New facts about the author of the Prague Orloj were discovered recently - after 1980. This is how history can lead us by the nose... For centuries, Praguers believed that Ganush created the chimes, and passed 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 for the inventor of the Prague Astronomical Clock Mikulas from Kadani. The master was given a house at the Havel Gate and 3,000 Prague groszy, which at that time was an unusually large sum. Moreover, an annual salary of 600 groszy was assigned and property guarantees were provided - in fact, copyrights were protected.
Astronomical disk and how to determine the usual time
For a long time, Orloi consisted of only one disk - the astronomical one. Actually, they created a mechanism for the needs of astrology, and not in order to tell the residents the time. The astronomical disk is a special moving sky map, 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 moves, demonstrates a lot of information, and we, modern residents, look at this disk and don’t even know how to understand 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 the daytime - it is bluish in color. And the dark circle at the bottom is the night. Twilight is marked orange between day and night. A ring is superimposed on this whole picture, 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 points to three numerical scales at the same time. And where do we need? Along the edge of the disk are numbers in the form of some “squiggles” - this is the Old Czech time. Interestingly, in this coordinate system, the day ended with the onset of twilight.
The following digital characters in the Roman designation, also placed in a circle, are the European time. Now you can easily determine what time I captured the astronomical disk in the photo.
There are also Arabic numerals - they go below the Roman ones and are depicted weaker. Arabic numerals allow you to determine the Babylonian time. It also includes that grid of golden curved lines radiating from the center of the disk. Fortunately, we do not need it, 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 Piotr Parler, who created a stone extension to the town hall, where the chimes were placed. The stone trim around the astronomical disk is also his work.
I repeat, the definition of time is almost a side function of Orloi. The main thing is to track the movement of celestial bodies. And on the astronomical disk, the symbols of the Sun and the Moon move not only in a circle, but also along the arrow. The disc with the zodiac is also moving… Experts read information from all this. But they did not try to determine the minutes in the Middle Ages. Residents of that time were not interested in such trifles.
In 1490 Orla was supplemented with another disk. A calendar was placed on the disk, including all 365 days in the form of divisions along the rim of the disk. The appearance of the calendar is just correlated with the activities of the master Ganush.
Each evening, the calendar disc was manually rotated one notch, a practice that continued until 1566. Since then, the movement of the calendar board has been mechanized.
The attractive calendar disk that we are seeing now appeared much later. In the middle of the 19th century, the clock needed a major overhaul. A collection of money was announced for this plausible cause among the population of the Czech Republic. 4,265 gold pieces were collected. And the best Prague artist of that time, Josef Manes, took up the design of the calendar disk for a modest fee. 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 a series of paintings "Twelve Months". Each picture represents the features of medieval rural life during a certain month. The designation of days, as in earlier versions, is located on the outer ring of the disc. Where can you see what day it is? Look at the mark with a golden line at the top of the calendar. It shows both the date and the day of the week.
Symbolic images of chimes
Of great interest are the figures installed on both sides of the astronomical and calendar disk. The sculptures near the upper disk, as you noticed while watching the video, are set in motion during the chimes. 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, 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 pecking out the eye of a Turk” appeared on the coat of arms of the Schwarzenberg family. Perhaps, in this case, the image of the Turk denotes vicious features.
To the left of the astronomical disk are more understandable images. Allegories of avarice and vanity are set here:
Vanity peers into the mirror, Avarice shakes the bag of money. However, there are disagreements in the interpretation of these images. It is assumed that the Magician is installed on the far left, studying the invisible worlds, which is associated with knowledge, and not vice.
Below, at the calendar disk, the Philosopher and the Archangel Michael are located on the left, and the Astronomer and the Chronicler are on the right.
These images of Pražský orloj are always in sight. But if you watched the video, you paid attention to the procession of the apostles, which takes place during the mini-performance 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 Suharda.
The last of the images was installed in its place Rooster. Praguers heard it for the first time on December 31, 1882.
In conclusion, I want to say that the Prague Orloj is a mystery object. However, this is not surprising. Astronomical clocks were created in order to display information that is far from clear to everyone. And they have such a long age that they could not do without riddles and legends. I suppose, friends, that many of you have heard something interesting about the Prague Astronomical Clock. If so, please tell us.
Your euro guide Tatiana
Prague is famous for many sights. Including the oldest clock in the world that still works. Medieval clocks installed on the tower have been of particular interest for several centuries. Looking at the clock, you can determine not only the exact time in Prague, but also the Babylonian, Old Bohemian and sidereal time, as well as the phases of the moon and the zodiac constellation. There is even a calendar dial that identifies weekdays and weekends, as well as religious holidays. The Prague Astronomical Clock Orloj is an incredible achievement of medieval astrology.
Tourists come to Prague and always come to the Old Town Square to look at the figurines that come to life and come out of the clock. This action takes place every hour, and on holidays a real light show is arranged here. All performances are performed in a medieval style, and this creates an incredible atmosphere in the square. The clock on the Old Town Square constantly gathers a crowd of people near it, so you can watch everything even from a cafe. But keep in mind that the menu here is expensive compared to other parts of Prague. It is not the first time that many tourists and local residents watch the clock work, but every time a theatrical performance arouses genuine interest in them.
In 1338, the Old Town received the right to build its own town hall. A building was bought on the central square, and later the tower was completed. The astronomical clock became the main decoration of the tower, but they were not properly cared for. Mechanical and astrological clocks by Orloi were built to replace them. The history of the Prague chimes begins in the 15th century. The clock in Prague was so well made by the craftsman Mikulas from Kadan, according to the design of the famous mathematician and astronomer Schindel, that it is now the oldest working clock.
But the modern look of the clock was not made immediately, but gradually by different craftsmen. For example, the silhouette of Death was added only 80 years after the clock was set. The clock was repaired many times and improved, because the local authorities did not always care about their condition.
And in the 18th century, they even wanted to throw away the clock because they could not find a suitable master who would undertake the repair of the watch. At the end of the 19th century, the artist painted the clock, and added another item - a rooster.
During the war, a shell hit the town hall, all the figurines burned down along with the wooden dial. But the clock was not thrown away, but adjusted and left as a historical heritage of Prague culture. The clock restoration masters carried out such painstaking work that many of the details were able to be completely restored. The whole mechanism remained the same as the creator intended, and changes were made only to the decoration of the watch. Now the clock is closely monitored and the necessary repairs are carried out, because the Prague chimes will forever remain in the history of Prague. And how will the Old Town Square be without a crowd of tourists?
The astronomical dial symbolizes the geocentric system of the world (although the opposite has already been proven), but the data is still accurate. And this rather serves as confirmation of the fact that society is constantly developing, science is becoming more advanced, but time does not stop, both in the 15th century and in the 21st.
Legend Orloi
Together with wide popularity, Prague clocks are shrouded in secrets and legends. And Orloj is considered one of the most mysterious and mystical sights of the capital of the Czech Republic - Prague. And this is not surprising, because in the Middle Ages science was not so developed that craftsmen could create such high-quality and correct astronomical clocks. And even more so, which will work until our time. Therefore, the Czech people speculated about the possible outcome. According to legend, Orloi will stop his work only when the state goes into decline or before a war that will lead to the degradation of the nation. The Czechs associate watches with their own history, so they are kind to them. This coincidence or mystery still remains unsolved. The clock breaks at a time when there is a difficult period in the Czech Republic.
Since the Middle Ages, Orla has been endowed with evil power. The people of the 15th century can be understood, because alchemists, astrologers, scientists and prophets were involved in the construction. And it was this category of people that was feared and endowed with evil powers. A simple person of that time did not understand how a clock could give so much accurate data without the help of extraneous forces. But even now this is controversial, because the clock shows not only the time, but also gives information about the astronomical cycle, the position of the Sun and the Moon. The scientist himself, who developed the clock, says that everyone sees and understands as much as he can. And he does not need any other understanding.
There are also legends that the clock is a symbol of the Devil's eye, which counts down to the end of the world. There were legends that everyone who looked into this eye was doomed. Therefore, some church leaders were afraid to even look at Orloi. But these are only legends, there were people from universities who understood more than the exact time.
There is another legend that is associated with any person who harms the clock. These people are waiting for madness and damnation. Many emphasize that even good changes in appearance will entail serious consequences. After the artist painted the dial, his relatives claimed that he began to show signs of mental illness. There are legends that at the last stage of the disease, the artist walked around Orloi with candles. These are only legends, but the value of the Orloj astrological clock in Prague remains unchanged.
Another interesting fact is that there are 12 animals around the dial. The lion is at the top. In mythology, it is a protector and a symbol of valor. He is followed by other protectors or companions, and then evil forces and at the very bottom of the face with the personification of the Devil. And along with this world, people are displayed on the clock. Here is the Miser, and the Mage, and the Skeleton, and the Turk. People did not want to offend either the feelings of evil forces or living people. So everything is shown here.
The sculpture of the archangels protects the Prague chimes Orloj from the negative impact, because it can affect the entire Czech Republic. People in the Middle Ages were afraid of the clock on the town hall and attributed mystical signs to them, but now the Czechs are afraid of losing their symbol.
theatrical performance
On the square from 8:00 to 20:00, the Prague chimes on the Old Town Square begin their permanent theatrical performance, which has won the hearts of several generations of people. The main theme that is played out is medieval history.
Start of the show
The bell of the sculpture of Death rings and, one by one, the apostles begin to appear in special windows. Christ appears last in the window. After the main characters of the action have appeared before the audience, a new action begins on the side of the astronomical clock and the calendar dial. New heroes begin to appear, which are typical only for Czech astronomical clocks. Then Death comes into play. She turns the hourglass over and signals the Turk. With pronounced indignation, he tries to confront Death. At this point, the Miser takes out his wallet and flips it over to feel the coins. And the main symbol of the punishment of sinners appears - an angel with a sword. The performance ends with a crowing of a rooster.
Some tourists come here in search of a secret meaning, others - to enjoy a vivid performance. Unfortunately, the theatrical performance has already lost the sacred meaning that was originally laid down, but this does not stop tourists. Now it is a vivid performance with the participation of medieval figures and a huge Prague square. Therefore, the popularity of the Prague chimes does not fall, but rather grows. After all, the astrological clock is constantly coming true for more and more years.
Address on the map
- StaromEstské namesti
How to get there?
The Prague Astronomical Clock is located on the Old Town Square.
There are several ways to get to the square:
- by metro to Staroměstská or Náměstí Republiky station;
- by tram to any of the stops: Náměstí Republiky, Dlouhá třída, Jindřišská, Staroměstská, Právnická fakulta.
You can also get there on foot or by taxi, because the square is located in the center of the Old Town.
Working hours
Orloi is open daily, but the chiming clock can only be heard between 9:00 and 23:00. A particularly exciting performance on holidays.
Few people know that the Prague Astronomical Clock, located in one of the towers of the town hall, is also called the Prague Astronomical Clock or Prague Orloj. The fact is that the original name of this legendary attraction is Pražský orloj, which in translation means the synonyms mentioned above. It is here that you can always see numerous tourists waiting for the action, which is called a real breakthrough of all time - a show when the figures inside the clock come to life.
Looking at the Astronomical clock, you can determine three hourly measurements and find out the Central European, Old Bohemian or sidereal time of interest. In addition to these data, with the help of the watch, you can see the zodiacal position of the Moon and the Sun. All the necessary data is learned from the upper - astronomical and lower - calendar dials.
We rise up
The top dial is one of the oldest astronomical instruments - an astrolabe that determines latitude and longitude. The author of the astrolabe of the Astronomical Clock was Jan Schindel, who was at one time a professor of mathematics and astronomy, as well as a rector at the famous Charles IV University. The astrolabe was made by Mikulas from Kadani in 1410, and 80 years later, in 1490, a lower dial with Gothic sculptures was added, made by the watchmaker Jan from Rouge. It was only in the 18th century that moving figures and other decorative elements were added, which daily attract the attention of tourists to this day.
Complex mechanisms required careful control, and therefore a caretaker was chained to the clock, who, in case of breakdowns, could always eliminate the cause so that the clock hands could continue to move. However, there was not always an experienced and competent watchmaker-caretaker, and therefore there were periods when the Prague Astronomical Clock was left unattended or stopped its course. Between 1791 and 1866, the astrolabe was broken while the clockwork continued to run.
After the events of May 8, 1945, when both Orloi and the entire Old Town Hall burned down from an incendiary shell, a complete restoration of the lost values began. In three years, restoration work was completed, during which it was possible to recreate both the mechanism itself and the astrolabe from the original materials. A small part of the parts was replaced, the clock mechanism was also modernized. Most of the changes took place in the decoration and decoration of the Prague Astronomical Clock.
amulets
In the Middle Ages, it was believed that every building is susceptible to negative influences, and therefore it was customary to decorate buildings with various elements that reflect evil. So, two mythical Basilisks, which with just a glance are able to turn all life on earth into stone, guard the building, located on a cone-shaped roof.
Upper dial
This is a clockwork and an astrolabe. Here you can see the movement of the sun. Unlike standard watches, there is no minute hand.
Principle of operation
If you look at the dial, you will see several circles. So, the largest in diameter, where you can see large Arabic numbers, shows the Old Bohemian time. 
A little lower you will see Roman numerals, you can find out the Central European time from them. 
To determine the time, you need to find a fairly large gold arrow with a hand in the form of a tip, and look at the Roman numerals. 
Until the middle of the 20th century, the inhabitants of Prague lived according to the old Czech time, the beginning of the day began at sunset, and therefore there were many variations. That is why the outer circle rotates in two directions, relative to the dial. Noon in those days was marked by a shot from a cannon.
Roman numerals have appeared relatively recently, thanks to which we can find out the real time of day.
Also on the smallest circle you can see 12 Arabic numerals. It is these numbers, depicted on a light blue background, that indicate the daylight hours of a planetary day. 
If you look closely, you can see that the twelve digits are divided into several sectors, some of which are signed. Where the number “1” is located, you can see the inscription ORTUS, which means sunrise, and where the number “12” is OCCASUS, which means sunset. 
On a dark blue background, the night time of the planetary day is depicted. Between the circles, you probably noticed a light brown sector. It symbolizes the dawn - AURORA and twilight - CREPUSCULUM.
The blue circle, which is located in the very center of the clock, indicates our planet, around which the Zodiac ring moves. It shows in which constellation the Sun is located. The ring of the zodiac is divided by 72 rays, which divide the months into days, each interval between them means 5 days. 
An arrow with a gilded Sun will help determine the constellation, and an arrow with a dark ball will show the phases of the Moon from one or another location of the Sun. At night, this arrow can be easily recognized by its glow; at the new moon, you can see its bright side. 
Decoration and finishing
If you build an imaginary circle around the clock, you can see a huge number of sculptures depicting living beings, some of which are real, and some are fictional.
At the highest point of the circle is a sculpture of a lion. If you were interested in mythology, watched films or read books, then you should understand and know that the lion is in the upper food chain, is considered the king and protector of other living individuals. In addition, lions are always respected, and are also considered a symbol of death in an equal fight. 
Next to the king of beasts is a sculpture of a faithful and vigilant dog, which was tamed by people in the first place. According to legend, it was the dogs who guarded the treasures from robbers and thieves. The image of a dog on the tombstone of a knight meant the natural death of the deceased.
Next, you will see a snake with a Phrygian cap. Obviously, this sculpture has a dual meaning, because the cap meant freedom from slavery in ancient Rome, and the snake is the most sinful and defiled devilish creature. Thus, this composition means purification and perfection, that is, the reincarnation from the lower status of a snake to a higher and more reasonable status of a person.
Then, your eyes will fall on the cat, which was also a treasure guard, but not as reliable as a dog. The cat symbolizes independence, falsehood, malice, and was also considered a companion of magicians and sorcerers.
Representation in the style of the Middle Ages
Every hour from 8 am to 8 pm, an action in the spirit of the Middle Ages takes place on the Old Town Square, when the apostles appear one after another in the upper windows and Jesus is the final participant. At the same time, a little lower, on the sides, the figures also begin to move. Moving objects symbolize human vices. Thus, the skeleton, which symbolizes death, turns the clock over and nods to the Turk, and the Turk shakes his head negatively. On the other side, the Miser shakes his wallet, and the archangel with a sword punishes him, being the embodiment of punishment for sinners. The end of the performance is marked by the crowing of a rooster. 
They rank third in the world. By the way, they are the oldest, but still work.
Oh, how good the Prague chimes are! Orloi consists of three basic elements placed vertically on the tower. The masters equipped its central part with an astronomical dial, which shows the Babylonian, Old Bohemian, modern (Central Europe) and sidereal time, the moment of sunset and sunrise, the phases of the Moon, the position of the heavenly bodies among the constellations that are in the zodiac circle.
On both sides of the astronomical clock are figures that move every hour. Among them, the statuette of Death, made in the form of a human skeleton, stands out the most. Above, on the right and left sides of the stone central one, there are two windows, in which every hour, when the chimes are heard, statues of 12 apostles appear in turn. Above the stone statue of a cherub, a golden rooster crows as the apostles complete their procession.
Under the astronomical dial there is a calendar dial, with which you can determine the month of the year, weekends, days of the week, as well as the unchanging holidays of Christians. Sculptures are also placed to the right and left of it.
Privilege
The Prague Astronomical Clock is located on the tower of the Old Town building. In 1338, John of Luxembourg granted the population of the Old Town the privilege of having a personal town hall. After that, for city needs, a private house was purchased from the merchant Volfin from Kamene. First, the building was rebuilt in accordance with the needs of the City Council, and then in 1364 it was equipped with a tower. A clock was installed on it, which was first mentioned in 1402. However, due to negligent maintenance, they soon had to be replaced, as a result of which Orla was created.
So, we continue to further study the Prague Astronomical Clock. The astronomical dial and mechanical clock are the oldest parts of Orloi, made in 1410. These elements were created by the watchmaker Mikulas from Kadan according to the project of the astronomer and mathematician Jan Shindel. The astronomical dial has a sculptural design, which was made by the workshop of the famous Czech sculptor and architect Petr Parler. Orloi was first mentioned in a document dated October 9, 1410. It characterizes Mikulas from Kadani as an eminent and recognized watchmaker who created the astrolabe chimes for the ancient site of Prague.
Interestingly, in this paper, the City Council and the headman reproach the craftsman Albert (the former keeper) for careless care of the previous clock and praise Mikolash for outstanding work. The document also states that as a reward for his work, the professional received a house at the city's Havel Gate, 3,000 Prague groszy one-time and an annual allowance of 600 groszy.
historical error
Another documentary information about Orloi appeared in 1490. It was then that the watchmaker Jan Ruže from Prague, known as master Ganush, repaired the device, added the first moving statue of Death and the lower dial with the calendar. These impressive improvements and 80 years of oblivion of the first creators influenced the fact that it was the master Ganush who was considered the creator of Orloi for the next 450 years. The historical error was even reflected in the legend, according to which a member of the Prague Council ordered the specialist Hanush to be blinded so that he could not repeat his work anywhere else. This information is especially common among intellectuals thanks to the writer Jirasek Alois, who added it to his Czech Old Tales (1894).
Jan Rouge probably had a son who helped him for many years. It was he who followed Orloi until 1530. This watchmaker is compared to Jakub Cech, the creator of the first portable Czech watch. Yakub did not have a student, and Orloi was left without decent care.
In 1552, Jan Taborsky was appointed to serve the Prague Astronomical Clock. He repaired and upgraded the product, and compiled its comprehensive technical manual. It is in this document that Jan Taborsky for the first time incorrectly names Jan Rouge as the creator of the chimes. The error occurred due to incorrect interpretation of the records of that time. In 1962, it was corrected by the Czech astronomer and historian Zdenek Gorski, who studies the history of science.
Saving Orloi
In the following centuries, the Prague Astronomical Clock stopped many times due to the lack of professional keepers and was repaired a couple of times. In 1629 and 1659, the clock was repaired, during which its beating mechanism was moved down from the tower, and wooden "companions" were added to the figure of Death. During this refurbishment, a hidden exclusive system was created to move the moon, showing its phases.
For decades, the Prague Astronomical Clock stood without movement. Prague in the XVIII century did not pay attention to their critical condition. When in 1787 the craftsmen were rebuilding the town hall, Orloi even wanted to be scrapped. The clock was saved from death by employees from the Prague Clementinum: the head of the observatory, Professor Strnad Antonin, obtained subsidies for the repair and, together with the watchmaker Simon Landsperger, by 1791 repaired it a little. In fact, he only managed to launch the clock device, and the astrolabe remained damaged.
In the same period, moving statuettes of the apostles were added. A major overhaul of Orloi was carried out in 1865-1866: all parts of its mechanism were corrected, including the astrolabe, and a statuette of a rooster was added. It is known that at that time the artist Manes Josef painted the lower calendar disc. And to control the accuracy of the course, experts installed the chronometer Bozek Romuald.
Damage
Many craftsmen created the Prague Astronomical Clock. The Czech Republic is proud of this work of art. It is known that at the end of the Second World War, impressive damage was done to the clock. In Prague in 1945, on May 5, an anti-Nazi riot broke out. Fighting was going on everywhere in the city, barricades were erected. Particularly stubborn clashes were observed in the center, near the building of the Czech Radio, captured by the rebels. With the help of a radio transmitter located on the tower of the Old Town Hall, the rebels transmitted appeals to the Czech people.
Parts of the German group of forces "Center" were in Prague. It was they who tried to crush the uprising and interrupt radio broadcasts. The German army shot down the building of the Old Town Hall from anti-aircraft guns with incendiary shells, as a result of which, on May 8, 1945, it ignited. Then Orloi was badly damaged by fire: the astronomical disk collapsed down, and the calendar dial and wooden statues of the apostles burned down.
Recovery
It is known that by July 1, 1948, the chimes were reconstructed in full: the brothers Jindrich and Rudolf Wiesecki repaired the broken and bent parts of the clockwork and assembled it again, and the woodworker carved new figurines of the apostles. The last minor repair of Orloi was made in 2005. Today this creation consists of 3/4 old parts.
Astronomical dial
Why do many people want to see the Prague Clock? The astronomical signs depicted on this masterpiece impress everyone. The Orloi dial is an astrolabe powered by a watch system. Orloi reproduces the Ptolemaic geocentric structure of the world: in the center is the Earth, around which the Moon and the Sun revolve.
The following elements move along the motionless colored background of the astronomical disk depicting the sky and the Earth: the outer and zodiac rings, pointers with the symbols of the Moon and the Sun, and a pair of hour hands with a golden hand and an asterisk at the end. Unlike ordinary watches, there is no hour hand.
calendar dial
What else are the Prague Astronomical Clocks famous for? Orloj's calendar clock was first designed by Jan Rouge (master Ganush) in 1490. It is known that the chimes at first consisted only of an astronomical dial. The first calendar disc, unfortunately, has not been preserved. Its current version was created by the archivist K. J. Erben from Prague during the restoration of 1865-1866, based on the surviving copy of 1659, which was based on ancient engravings. In 1865-1866, the calendar disk was painted by the artist Josef Manes. That is why it is often called the Manes dial.
Sculptural decoration of chimes
We already know what the Prague Astronomical Clock is called. Orloi is their middle name. Sculptures decorating it were created for several centuries. That is why they do not have a single creative idea. It is believed that the stone carved ornament that adorns the astronomical disk and the sculpture of an angel in the upper part of Orloi were made by the workshop of Petr Parlerge. The rest of the decorations came later.
From time to time, the statues of watches were reconstructed, sometimes they were made anew, which erased their primary meaning. As a result, today it is very difficult to explain the significance of the architectural design of the chimes.
supernatural powers
People with medieval thinking believed that any structure could be detrimentally affected. Therefore, they decorated it at home with a variety of security details. Since Orloi is located on the facade of a secular building (it was not protected by the temple space), the need for amulets increased. So, the upper part of the Prague masterpiece is guarded by a rooster, basilisks and an angel.
On the sloping roof there are mythical creatures - two basilisks, which are able to turn all living things into stone with one glance. Each of them has two wings, a bird's beak, a swept tail and a snake body. It is known that the basilisk gained fame due to the title of the snake king. The gilded rooster - an ancient symbol of vigilance and courage, meeting the Sun and a new day, is placed under the very roof of the chimes. Beliefs say that it is with the first cry of this bird that the evil spirit that rules at night disappears.
The central sculpture of the upper part of the clock is with wings. God's messenger holds a fluttering ribbon with a message that is no longer readable today. The angel is considered the oldest rarity statue and is a stubborn fighter against dark forces. It rests on a cornice, under which is placed a completely unidentifiable stone band. Some say that snakes, others - a scroll with an unknown text. On either side of the figure of an angel there are two windows in which statuettes of 12 apostles appear every hour.
We hope you liked our article about the Prague Astronomical Clock and you have a desire to see this masterpiece with your own eyes.
Clock on the Old Town Square in Prague, Prague Orloj - an astronomical clock installed on the southern wall of the Old Town Hall building, is a popular and world-famous landmark of the Czech capital.
History of construction and improvements
The clock in Prague on the Old Town Square, which has a history of more than 600 years, was first mentioned in the chronicles for 1402, but already in 1410 they were replaced by new mechanical ones with an astrolabe, made by the Kadan master Mikulas. They were made according to the project of the astronomer J. Shindel.
In 1490, during repairs, the clock was improved: calendar disks were completed, and Gothic figures were installed on the facade. The work was carried out by master Ganush.
In the following years, restorations were carried out many more times, because due to the inexperience of the caretakers serving them, the chimes sometimes stopped themselves.
In 1552, the restoration of the clockwork was done by master J. Taborsky.
Further improvements were made in the 17th century, when the mechanism that beats the time was moved, some figures were installed, as well as indicators of the phases of the moon.
History of watch restoration
In 1778, the authorities of Prague decided to dismantle the mechanism for scrap due to lack of funds for its repair. The local watchmaker J. Landesberger became the savior of the chimes, who in 1791 repaired them free of charge in order to preserve this landmark for future generations. However, due to poor maintenance, the astrolabe began to work poorly, and they could not fix it. The figures of the apostles were added to the mechanism.
In the middle of the 19th century, they again wanted to dismantle the chimes. Watchmakers L. Heinz, C. Danek and R. Bozek became the next saviors, who raised funds for the reconstruction of watches. During the restoration, R. Bozek made a chronometer, which still controls the mechanism (the clock is only 0.5 minutes behind a week, which is a good result). Since then, as now, the repair work of the Orloi mechanisms has been carried out by the Heinz company.
Since then, the clock in Prague on the Old Town Square (photo below) has become a famous attraction in the Czech capital. The craftsmen were able to restore almost 75% of the original parts of the clockwork.
Clock in Prague on the Old Town Square: description
The astronomical clock consists of several parts, the main of which are:
- astronomical discs, which determine the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky, showing some details of astronomy, have a zodiacal ring;
- "Progress of the Apostles" - a mechanism that every hour sets in motion the moving mechanical figures of the apostles and characters;
- medallion watch face that works like a calendar and shows the months.
The astrolabe with the help of a clock mechanism indicates the time in several systems at once:
- Babylonian, in which at different times of the year there are different lengths of the hour;
- Old Czech (Schwabacher numerals are used);
- Central European - shows Roman numerals;
- sidereal time (arabic numerals).
Unlike other Prague chimes, the famous clock on the Old Town Square in Prague does not switch to summer time, so for half of the year it shows inaccurate time (one hour behind European time).
The calendar dial is decorated with 12 medallions, each of which represents scenes from rural life in the Middle Ages.
What does the astronomical clock show?
The clock on the Old Town Square in Prague can be called a small planetarium that shows the state of the universe. With the help of a mechanical astrolabe, although it was built in the Middle Ages, you can see the position of the Sun and Moon.
The image of the Earth (blue circle) and some part of the sky (top) represent the background. 4 moving parts rotate on the disks: the ring of zodiac signs and the outer one, images of the Sun and the Moon.
During the day, the Sun moves on a blue background, and at night - on a black one. In the hours of dawn and evening twilight - along the red area of the background. To the left of the horizon is written avrora (dawn) and ortus (sunrise), to the right - occasus (sunset) and crepusculum (twilight).
The Golden Sun moves around the circle of the zodiac signs and shows with the help of an arrow and a gilded hand for a certain time:
- when pointing to Roman numerals, you can see the local Prague time;
- the position of the star on the curved golden lines determines the Babylonian time;
- on the outer ring, the hand shows the hours elapsed after sunset according to the old Czech reckoning;
- the moon moves along the ecliptic at a higher speed, and the silver sphere shows the lunar phase.
Orloi top dial
The clock on the Old Town Square in Prague attracts the attention of tourists every hour (the performance takes place from 9.00 to 21.00).
The upper dial is astronomical, on the side of it there are 4 figures, which are located on both sides of the clock. These figures symbolize the despised vices of man:
- death, reminiscent of the frailty of being;
- vanity, depicted by a figure with a mirror;
- greed (a Jew with a wallet);
- Turk, symbolizing the centuries-old danger to the Habsburg Empire, emanating from the Ottoman Empire.
Above the dial there are windows with doors in which the figures move one by one. According to the movement of the Skeleton (Death), which pulls the rope, the appearance of the apostles in the window begins: St. Peter holds the key, St. Matthew threatens with an ax, St. Paul holds a book in his hands , St. Jan - a goblet, St. Jacob - a spindle, St. Shimon - a saw, St. Tomas - a spear, St. Ondrej and Philip hold crosses, St. Bartholomew wrinkles his skin with his hands, St. Barnabas holds a scroll, and St. Tadeusz holds papers in a folder under his arm.
The lower dial of the Orloi
The clock on the Old Town Square in Prague also has a second dial - the zodiac (added in 1490), which is also decorated on both sides with figures: a chronicler, an angel, an astronomer and a philosopher.
In the outer black circle is a movable round part with the signs of the zodiac, indicating the position of the Sun in the ecliptic. The signs are located and go in order counterclockwise. A small gold star indicates the spring equinox.
According to the zodiac dial, you can determine the sign of the zodiac, name day, day and month of birth. However, a copy of it hangs on the town hall, and the original (written by J. Manes in the 19th century) is exhibited in the Prague Museum of History.
During the performance, all figures and 12 apostles move. At the same time, the Turk shakes his head all the time, and the miser shows his purse. The finale of the whole performance is the cock crow, announcing the beginning of a new hour.
Legends about Orlo
One of the legends is connected with those times when the clock on the Old Town Square (Prague, Czech Republic) was still under construction. Master Ganush, who added a calendar dial to the chimes, impressed the authorities of the city with his skill and beauty of work so much that they decided to deprive him of his sight so that in the future he could not build a similar clock anywhere and for anyone. The indignant master decided to commit suicide by throwing himself from a height inside the Orloi mechanism, after which the chimes stopped for several years due to damage. However, history refutes this legend, master Ganush (his real name was Jan Rouge) really finalized the clockwork, and everything else is fiction.
Another legend says that when the clock stops, cataclysms must necessarily occur in the city. Such a stop happened during the occupation of the Czech Republic by the Nazis, which ended directly on the Old Town Square when the Soviet troops destroyed the last German group in Prague on May 8, 1945.
One of the last stops of Orloj occurred in 2001, after which there was a large-scale flood that flooded the Czech capital (August 2002).
Prague Orloj: reviews and impressions
The chimes on Old Town Square are one of the attractions that attract thousands of tourists who come in crowds every hour to watch the performance with moving figures.
There are no performances at night, and Orloi employees are engaged in the restoration and updating of mechanisms and figurines in the tower. Watches require daily care (lubrication of mechanisms, etc.), which these people follow.
Many tourists who come to admire the clock on the Old Town Square in Prague express their reviews with enthusiasm and enthusiasm. Orloj is located in the very center of Prague, on the square where Christmas and other festive festivities are held, fairs are held. There are also numerous restaurants and cafes with delicious pastries and national dishes.
Conclusion
In 2010 the Prague Orloj celebrated its 600th anniversary. There were festive events dedicated to this event in the city. All the past few hundred years, the famous chimes have attracted many tourists to Prague, and they will remain popular for more than one century.
This place is especially beautiful during the New Year holidays: the largest Christmas tree in the city is set up in the center of the square, and festive shows are arranged around, which, surrounded by medieval spiers and castles, resemble a fabulous and beautiful theatrical performance.
