Saturday, September 25, 2010

Astronomical Clock - Prague

One of the must-see sights in Prague is the Astronomical Clock in the Old Town Square (Staromestske namesti).  It was added to the Old Town Hall in 1490.  According to my Berlitz Pocket Guide for Prague "it was so highly prized by the city fathers that they had the clockmaker who made it blinded so that he could not re-create his masterpiece."  My jaw dropped when I read that....that is some serious brutality for a clock!


"On every hour, the figures on the clock perform their ritual. Death consults his watch and pulls a cord that rings a bell; Christ and the apostles appear above; and the crowing of a cock signals the end of the proceedings. The clock captures time in a variety of ways, from teh passing seconds to the cycles of the sun and moon. It is interesting to note that in keeping with the thinking of the time, the clock shows the earth positioned at the center of the universe." (Berliz)




More Prague photos, coming soon!

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