Old Town Eagle, or Prague Eagle, is a mysterious medieval astronomical clock located on the south side of the Old Town Hall in Prague. The first written mention of them dates back to October 9, 1410.
There are many legends associated with this watch. The most famous legend tells a sad story Master Ganush who created the eagle. To prevent him from building the same wonderful clock for another city, a group of people hired by the town hall workers broke into his house at night. The bandits blinded him with red-hot iron pins. Master Ganush guessed whose hands it was. So he ordered his assistant to bring him to the inside of the clock. As revenge, the master stopped the clock. For the next hundred years, no one could restart this unique and very complex mechanism.
What is the Prague Eagle made of?
The brightest elements of the watch - astronomical dial And calendar board under him. On the dial, you can calculate the time, astronomical cycles, the position of the Sun and the constellation through which it passes, the position of the Moon in the sky, its phases and location relative to the Sun. The calendar board shows the current month, day, and fixed holidays of the Christian calendar. Above the dial are two windows in which every hour move figurines of the apostles. In addition, an eagle is decorated with figures on the sides, a bust of an angel between the windows of the apostles and a singing rooster at the very top.
The work of the clock, the astronomical and calendar displays, the movement of the apostles and figurines is provided by a clock mechanism, which has been repaired and improved several times over time.
A Brief History of the Astronomical Clock in Prague
Already in 1402, an astronomical clock was installed on the tower. In 1410, when he was a watchmaker Mikulas from Kadani, most likely in collaboration with the astronomer Jan Ondzheev, nicknamed Shindel, he installed a modern eagle. Around 1470, the architectonic and sculptural design of the clock was supplemented, and in 1490 the eagle was improved by a talented watchmaker, master Ganush. At that time craftsmen were called craftsmen in the Old Czech language.
In the second half of the 16th century, the clock was modified Jan Taborsky. The following additions were made during the 17th and 19th centuries. During a major renovation in 1865 - 1866. a new pictorial calendar board from a famous artist was attached to the eagle. It depicts the symbols of the zodiac, the moon and the coat of arms of the Old Town of Prague. On May 8, 1945, at the end of World War II, during the Prague uprising, the eagle was seriously damaged. Its renewal required a complete renovation.
Despite the damage, the Old Town Eagle is the best preserved medieval clock in the world. It has rightly become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Prague. The clock is part of the historical center of the city, which is included in the UNESCO cultural heritage list in the Czech Republic.
What do the figures on the Prague astronomical clock mean?
12 apostles
Every hour during the daytime, two windows above the clock face appear 12 apostles. Each of them has its own distinctive attributes. Their appearance has nothing to do with time. The meaning of these figurines is rather religious. They also serve to entertain passers-by.
12 apostles (orloj.eu)
The modern statues of the 12 apostles were created after 1945 by a Czech sculptor and puppeteer. Vojtech Suharda. The previous figurines of the apostles burned down in the fire of the town hall in May 1945. When the moving apostles first appeared on the eagle, it is not known exactly, because the entire city archive also burned down. The windows were created in 1790, while the figurines were most likely made in the early 19th century. Initially, they were hollow and moved along the windows, three figures raised their hands, twirled and nodded their heads.
wooden statues
In addition to the apostles, on the eagle you can also see 9 interesting wooden sculptures, which also start moving every hour.
So, above the windows with the apostles you can see golden cockerel (kohout), who ends the performance with singing. The figurine is really gilded. The cockerel was installed in the eagle in the 19th century as the last of the figures.
IN top left row located figurine of a vain man (marnivec), which, when moving, examines its face in the mirror, and statue of a miser (lakomec) shaking a bag of money and a stick.
IN top right row you will see skeleton figure (smrtka) representing death. When moving, the skeleton turns the hourglass over (measures the time of life) and rings the funeral bell by the string, which is located in the turret above the eagle. Next to death is turk statue- a symbol of luxury.
IN bottom left row located statue of a philosopher who studies the world, and figurine of Archangel Michael (anděl), which points to the arrow at the top of the watch face.
Hello friends! For a modern person, a watch is a completely ordinary mechanism with which we have to interact daily 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 of the Middle Ages. The astronomical clock in Prague shows not only the time. And what else? What "applications" to the clock were important to people of past centuries, so much so that they "put" additional "programs" in the main clock of the city?
Attention! On January 9, 2018, the renovation of Orloi 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 with a modern look. View of the user, which is difficult to surprise with technical innovations. Especially a novelty that has worked for 6 hundred years.
Model description
Czechs call the Prague chimes Pražský orloj - the Prague Eagle and also the Old Town Eagle, since the clock is on the town hall building. Accordingly, the eagle is an unusual clockwork with additional programs.
This medieval clock, in addition to time, shows:
- calendar data (current year, month, day)
- the time of sunrise and sunset of the luminaries (sun and moon)
- position of the zodiac signs
- Moon phases
- the interface of the chimes includes a demonstration of time in three popular calculus 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:
- the ability to find out the time in 24 and 12-hour mode
- the watch includes 6 “video clips” important for a person of the Middle Ages, warning against major sins, reminding us that the Last Judgment awaits all of us and we need to prepare for it every day of our lives.
Note:
The clock was made in the 15th century.
Number of copies 1 (one).
Even now, in the age of advanced technology, the arrangement of the Prague Astronomical Clock is amazing. You can imagine how it impressed the inhabitants of medieval Prague.
Here are some reasons why the Prague Astronomical Clock is always mentioned among the most important sights of the city.
- The clock has been working for 6 centuries.
For ease of understanding this fact, compare:
America was discovered in 1492. The astronomical clock started working in 1410. Those. 80 years before the discovery of America. Russia at that time was coming out from under the Tatar-Mongol yoke.
- Some of the details of the mechanism are still original, medieval, so the Prague Clock is a historical monument.
- If you want to know what an old astrolabe looks like, look. The Prague chimes are the astrolabe.
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Instruction for users
Description of the Prague chimes is not an easy task. Firstly, they are beautiful and your 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, which denoted the Old Bohemian time (1)
- Then there are Roman numerals. This is the dial we know. Shows German time (2)
- Then come Arabic numerals - 1, 2, 3, etc. They show Babylon time (3)
- Modern watches have 12 digits on their dial. At 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 noon to 12 noon.
- The right half shows the time from 12 pm to 12 am.
- The blue color of the dial shows daylight hours.
- Orange - dawn.
- Arcs with the inscription ORTUS and OCCASUS indicate sunrise (5) and sunset (10)
- Brown (dark) - night time, when the sun is hidden behind the horizon (7)
- Upper (small disk) - shows the Zodiac (9)
- The signs of the Zodiac move in a circle and along their axis, making a complete phase.
- The arrow with the image of the Sun shows the time and in what sign the Sun is now (daily movement of the Zodiac) (4)
- Arrow with the Moon - shows what sign the Moon is in now (6)
- Pictured at 9 am. Sun in Libra, Moon on the border of Capricorn and Aquarius.
- The ball of the moon is endowed with a separate rotating mechanism showing 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 the celestial bodies in the sky. The clock indicates the position of the Sun, Moon, month and zodiac sign. Those. Orloi 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.
Viewing "video clips"
From 9 am to 9 pm every 60 minutes, tourists and residents of Prague become witnesses of 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 the wallet.
- And, finally, the last figurine - the Turk - a symbol of the danger that has come from the Ottoman Empire for many years.
The little play begins with Death pulling the string and the ringing of a bell. Death looks at the Turk, who just shakes his head. Greed squeezes the purse tightly with his hands, and Vanity admires himself in the mirror.
At the same time, the four figures on the sides of the lower clock begin to move. This clock is also interesting, as it reflects the holidays fixed in the calendar and records important dates and information about the days.
Above the astronomical clock, windows open in which we see the apostles. In the hands of the apostles are objects. The figures move, each of the apostles performs its action. St. Matthew threatens with an ax, Peter squeezes the key.
And the show ends with a crowing of a rooster. The rooster sits at the very top of the composition.
The history of the creation of the eagle
The first question that comes to 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 Shindel.
By 1490, a calendar dial appeared on the device, for the creation of which Josef Manes was responsible. Around the same time, the first sculptures appeared next to the mechanism - examples of the Gothic style.
Of course, during its long history, the eagle stopped many times for completely different reasons, and was also brought to work many times.
There were tragic moments in the history of watches, after which one of the most famous sights of the city had to be restored.
- The clock was first restored in 1552 by Jan Taborski.
- The first moving statues became the decoration of the chimes in the 17th century.
- The figures of the Apostles were added later, in 1865-1866.
The chimes had a hard time during the hostilities of the Second World War. In the spring of 1945, it was badly damaged, and with it a unique mechanism. The greatest damage was done to the sculptures of the apostles. Then they almost completely burned out.
In 1948, wood carving master Vojtech Suharda took up the restoration of the watch. At the same time, the clock mechanism was also overhauled.
Truth or fiction
The legend of the master who created the complex clock mechanism is connected with the history of the Prague chimes. But the name of his century was not preserved. Perhaps it was master Jan Ruzhe or master Hanush. So that Hanush could never create something like this again, the city council (wow 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 machine. He climbed 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 a 100% fiction. The mechanism, indeed, repeatedly stopped. But, unfortunately, the authorities of Prague could not always find money for its repair. This happened in 1778 and it was decided to simply dismantle the chimes. Jan Landesberger, a Prague watchmaker, prevented this from happening. He did the repairs with his own money.
This happened again in 1861. Then the clock was saved by the inhabitants of the city. They raised funds to repair the mechanism and once again the pride of the city was preserved for posterity.
Since the end of the 19th century, the Heinz company has been repairing chimes.
You can hear and see how the clock strikes 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 cling to the glass door.
Video about the Prague Eagle. In this video, you can see the mechanism of the clock, the figures close up. In Czech.
How to get there
- Metro. To the station Old Town Square (Staroměstská)
- by tram. Nos. 17, 18, 53 to the Staroměstská stop. When you get to the place, look for the municipality of the Old City.
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 the specialist will tell you more than a regular guidebook.
Prague Astronomical Clock on the map
Address: Staroměstská radnice, Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, 110 00 Praha 1
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Few know that astronomical Prague 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 represents 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 on top of the Astronomical Clock
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.
Under the dome of the roof, you can see the next defender of the building - the rooster. It is this bird that meets the dawn symbolizes courage and vigilance. According to legend, when a rooster starts to sing, all evil spirits run away, which is why on almost all significant medieval buildings you can see the figure of a rooster, which will certainly be installed at the top.
Just below the rooster is a statue of an angel, which was one of the first to appear on the clock. On either side of the statue are two windows in which you can see the 12 apostles.
This mysterious upper dial
The top dial is a clock mechanism and an astrolabe. Here you can see the movement of the sun. Unlike standard watches, there is no minute hand.
How the dial works
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 circumference of the dial 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 of the dial
If you build an imaginary circle around the Astronomical dial, 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 - 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.
At the top of the dial you will see mascarons. These are images of faces with angry expressions. It was believed that the mascarons located at a height scare away the external elements, which later had to look for another place to manifest their strength.
In the gutters of the structure there are sculptures of gargoyles, which, oddly enough, protect the masonry from excessive moisture.
Then, your eyes will fall on the familiar toad, which means sin, and also symbolizes heretics. Being in a lie, that is, in a swamp, toads constantly lie, making croaking sounds.
After the toad sculpture, you will notice another familiar nocturnal animal - the hedgehog. It symbolizes the protection of the hearth, but is not kind, since the character consists of three components: greed, aggressiveness and anger.
Under the astrolabe at the bottom of the dial, you can find the image of the devil, which is represented as a wary beast with bulging eyes.
In the east and west of the dial you will see two different sculptures that warn against dark forces. This is a face without a form and goblin, respectively.
Large statues on the sides of the dial
1. A miserly Man with a bag and money is a Miser. There is evidence that earlier in the place of the miser there was a Jew who profited from interest, but due to political correctness, the statue had to be modified. 
2. The image of a magician with a mirror symbolizes a noble spiritual occupation - to look beyond the boundaries of the world. According to another interpretation, the sculpture means vanity, considering its image in the mirror.
3. Image of a skeleton - symbolizes Death. An hourglass and a brush stretching towards it means a call that reminds of death. 
4. Next to the skeleton is a sculpture of the Turk. According to one version, it is a symbol of pleasure and sin, according to the second, it is a reminder of the Turkish threat to the once existing Austrian Empire.
Lower dial - Manes dial
Unfortunately, the original version of the lower dial, which is a calendar, has not been preserved. Today, tourists watch the dial, which was designed from a copy from 1659 by archivist Jaromir Erben. In 1866 the artwork was completed. By agreeing to do his job, he did not take a large fee, however, he made significant changes to Orloi. Legends said that whoever deviated from the original design of Orloi would soon die. A combination of circumstances or a prophecy significantly changed the life of Josef Manes: in the following years he experienced severe pain, against which depression and mental illness developed. After the completion of the work, the restorer lived for 5 years. 
The Manes dial consists of two discs. The inner gilded disc represents the constellations, while the outer copper disc represents the days of the year. Due to the value of the calendar dial, it was decided to transfer the original to the main Gallery of Prague, and in its place a copy was installed, the author of which was E. K. Liszka. Thus, it was decided to protect the Manes dial from natural conditions and keep it in its original form.
Inner dial dial
The inner disk of the dial depicts the coat of arms of the capital of the Czech Republic, as well as the signs of the zodiac and the calendar cycle of paintings on the theme of rural life in the Middle Ages. The paintings themselves symbolize 12 months.
- January - the celebration of the birth of a child is depicted.
- February - a peasant is depicted warming his feet by the fire and a wife carrying firewood.
- March - plowing is depicted.
- April - tying up trees is depicted.
- May - depicts a guy who decorates a hat and a girl picking flowers
- June - mowing is depicted
- July - harvest is depicted
- August - grain threshing is depicted
- September - sowing is depicted
- October - depicted the grape harvest
- November - tree felling and firewood preparation are depicted
- December - depicts the slaughter of a piglet
Manes dial outer disc
The copper disk is divided into 365 segments, each of which contains a poetic syllabic calendar - tsisioyan. It also indicates the dates of the mention of the saints. If the day is a holiday, then the name of the saint honored on this day is indicated at the beginning of the qisioyan. If the day is normal, then qisioyan accepts meaningful content on various topics.
Decorations of the Manes calendar dial
The main idea of the external design of the dial is the image of plant motifs and symbols of life, so the dial is framed by a vine. It was believed that wine, being the drink of the Gods, freed from earthly routines, brought joy, youth and eternal life. 
On the right side of the dial are sculptures of a monkey and a phoenix bird, leading a conversation. Phoenix was revered by all ancient civilizations, symbolizing eternity, the cycle of life and resurrection. The monkey, on the other hand, was considered a tamed dexterous and intelligent animal until, in the Middle Ages, it began to symbolize sinfulness, greed and the incarnation of the devil. Complements the composition of the forest gnome and birds.
The whole structure seems to be supported by two sculptures of masons from the Middle Ages. Their social position can be determined by their attire. According to one version, these sculptures depict a master and an apprentice, whose works are interconnected.
In the lower left corner you can see a sculpture of an owl, which in ancient times symbolized night and wisdom, a little later the owl became associated with darkness and disbelief.
- Chronicler
- Astronomer
- archangel Michael
- Philosopher
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 over the clock 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. 
How to get to the Prague Astronomical Clock
Address: Staroměstské náměstí 1/3, 110 00 Praha 1-Staré Město
Phone: 236 002 629
Get directions
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.
The Czech Republic, like Russia, has its most famous chimes. They have a double name - Orloi or Old Town Clock. The first name is more common in the world. They say that everyone who comes to Prague is one of the first to memorize this word. "Orloj" in Czech means nothing more than "hours". Apparently, this is why the Prague chimes also have a second name - Old Town, so that the Czechs understand what kind of clock they are talking about.
The Old Town clock is much older than its Moscow counterparts. The clock was first mentioned in 1410, it was installed on the Old Town Hall. Their authors were two people - Mikulas Kadan and Jan Shindel. Moreover, the latter was not just a watchmaker, but a famous mathematician and astronomer of his time. Over its long history, watches have been modified and redesigned many times. They say that this is why their mechanisms are so complex and intricate that it is quite difficult for even an experienced specialist in this field to figure out how and what works there.
There is also a legend saying that the clock was finished by a watchmaker named Ganush in 1490 (he added a calendar dial). After he completed the construction, the city authorities were so amazed by the beauty of the watch that they decided to blind the master so that he could not repeat his masterpiece anywhere else. To avenge such "gratitude", Ganush committed suicide by throwing himself into a clockwork, which, due to damage, stopped for many years. But this is nothing more than a legend. In fact, such a person really existed, his name was Jan Rouge (Ganush was his nickname), and he finalized the watch by adding a dial and some figures, but there was no blinding and no suicide.
Orloi chimes display a lot of information. In addition to the time itself, you can see the current date, the time of sunset and sunrise of the Moon and the Sun, the current location of the signs of the Zodiac, even the position of the Earth relative to the Sun. But the most important thing is the performance that is shown every hour. It is for the sake of this puppet show that a huge number of tourists constantly gather on the square in front of the town hall, as once in Moscow during the changing of the guard at the Mausoleum.
The performance is carried out in the style of a medieval theater. There is also a skeleton in the form of death, reminiscent of punishment for earthly sins, and ten apostles, symbolizing righteousness and a proper way of life, and an angel lowering the punishing sword of justice. Even today, tourists watch the puppet show with enthusiasm, and what can we say about the power of influence on a medieval person who was not spoiled by such spectacles. This is what clocks were made for.
The old town clock stopped only a few times. And each time was a harbinger of some serious cataclysms. The last time was when the Czech Republic was occupied by the Germans during World War II, which, by the way, was actually completed near the Old Town Hall, when Soviet troops destroyed the last major German group in Prague on May 8.
Today, the Old Town Clock is called one of the main attractions of Prague.
