I have a confession to make – I am obsessed with Prague’s Astronomical Clock! When my parents shared their European vacation pictures and videos of the clock striking the hour, I was awestruck. It was one of the things that made me fall in love with Prague and decide to visit.
The Astronomical Clock is so much more than its vibrant colors and symbols. For hundreds of years, locals and travelers alike have been treated to a short performance as the clock strikes at the hour. The two small blue windows open and one is greeted by the 12 apostles ~ James the Less and Peter, Andrew and Matthias, Thaddeus and Philip, Thomas and Paul, John and Simon, Barnabas and Bartholomew. Below them, Vanity, Greed, and Lust stand watch, shaking their heads while Death tolls his bell and turns the hourglass holding the sands of time. The final note is the crow of the golden rooster.
What do all those paintings and symbols mean?
First, let’s cover the bottom circle starting from the middle ~ the symbol of Prague, the 12 astrological signs, pictures depicting the 12 months, and in the gray section, you will find every day of the calendar year written out.
As for the top circle, well, this will get a bit more complicated!
The outermost ring contains a series of Schwabacher numerals that indicate Old Czech time (Ancient Bohemian time). Next to those, one finds a series of Roman numerals that represent the modern 24-hour clock. The golden hand travels along those Roman numerals to indicate the time of day. And the final set of numbers, those in the light blue area, show Babylonian time. But those are not the only measures of the time. The golden star tracks Sidereal time (a timekeeping system used by astronomers). So yes, this very old, historic clock actually measures time in 4 different ways!
As for the colors, those depict the time of day ~ light blue is for daytime, the orange shade represents dawn and dusk, and dark blue/black indicates nighttime.
Wait there is more… a lot more! The smaller circle with the symbols depicts the 12 signs of the Zodiac. The sun, located in the same arm as the golden hand, moves up and down throughout the day to indicate its position in the sky. The moon, the black and silver ball, rotates to show the current phase of the moon.
And finally….in the center is an image of Earth and where all the hands meet, that is Prague!
Visiting the Astronomical Clock
I may be biased as this was one of my favorite sites but I strongly recommend that travelers stop by Old Town Square to view the Astronomical Clock. The site is centrally located and near other places of interest so one does not need to travel far to visit. Old Town Square does get a bit crowded in the afternoons and early evenings, especially during the summer, so I suggest travelers stop by in the morning to get better pictures. As for the hourly show, it lasts about a minute.
After visiting the Astronomical Clock, stroll around Old Town Square where you can catch a glimpse of the Church of our Lady Tyn, the Marian Column, St. Nicholas Cathedral, Storch House, the Jan Hus Memorial, and Kinsky Palace.
Spending a few days in Prague? Then I recommend climbing the clock tower where you’ll be greeted with some wonderful views of Old Town Square and Prague. You can also take a tour of the Old Town Hall and Gothic Cellars which includes a view of the clock’s mechanisms and a behind-the-scenes view of the 12 apostles. My next post will provide more information on visiting the tower and the tour.
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