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 the 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 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. 
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
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.
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;
- "The Apostles' Movement" - 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.
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.
The Old Town Square is the very place in the historical district of Prague, which bears the poetic name of the Old Town, where the inhabitants of the city traditionally gather for many centuries to celebrate holidays and memorable dates. The main attraction of this square is the Old Town Hall, which for many centuries has been decorated with world-famous Orloj Astronomical Clock (Pražský orloj).
They saw the light in 1410, thanks to the efforts of Mikulas Kadan with the participation of Jan Shindel, an astronomer from Charles University. Then the watch, like most other watches, had one dial, but 80 years later, thanks to the famous Prague watchmaker Jan Rouge, who is better known as the master Ganush, in 1490, a second dial was added, 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 notable improvements contributed to the fact that the names of the authors of the Prague Astronomical Clock described above were forgotten for a distant 450 years. This was facilitated by the legend of the master Hanus, which was later popularized by the writer Alois Jirasek in one of the stories "Old Czech Tales".
The Legend of the Astronomical Clock Orloi
As we learned earlier, master Ganush 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 they would be even better than the Old Town ones. In no case should this be allowed, so as not to weaken the greatness of Prague, it was decided to blind the master. To the unsuspecting master, unknown people in masks appeared at night. They quietly crept into Hanush's room, opening the doors with their key, seized 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 a corner of his workshop and thought bitterly about the gratitude that he was repaid for his work. All of Prague discussed the terrible atrocity with horror, but the villains were never caught. The blinded Ganush quickly surrendered, 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, climbed 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 Ganush stepped into the clock mechanism, thus stopping the clock and his life. The clock stood still for many years and no one could fix it. So the master finally avenged his blindness to the ungrateful city.
And today, the Orloi watch, this truly unique and amazing creation of masters from the distant Middle Ages, has two dials. The top dial is divided into several sectors. One of them traditionally shows 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 a bright day to a dark night, the sun moves through these sectors. Using the Prague astronomical clock, 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 equinox. And the lower dial, in turn, is a calendar. And as 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 Josef Manes in 1865. But today the original work cannot be seen on the clock: it has been replaced by a copy. And in search of the original, you will have to go to the Prague Museum.
Also, this clock is amazing in that every hour you can see a small performance in a medieval style. The apostles, located in the upper windows, begin their movement, and Christ appears behind them. The figures of Death, the Merchant, the Turk, the Arrogant and the Angel with a sword, located a little 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 senseless movement of figures, it has a meaning. The apostles watch the vices of mankind from above, Death rings the bell, then the Angel lowers the sword.
The Orloi watch is 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 curious sights of Prague.
Shape representation
If you want to visit the performance, then it takes place every hour from 8 am to 20:00 on the Old Town Square in front of the clock.
Be vigilant - there are pickpockets not only in your city, but also in the capital of the Czech Republic.
600th anniversary of the Prague Astronomical Clock
