Pražký orloj by Chipka
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Description
Horology, the study of time, is—most accurately—recognized as the study of time-keepers: watches, clocks, sundials or any other instrument dedicated to measuring time. I wonder at this definition, as I’ve often considered time-measurement devices to be something other than clocks. They are, as I once heard someone say, time-keeping devices intended to measure other time-keeping devices. “The purpose of a clock is to measure other clocks.” I can’t remember who said that, or where I heard it, but it’s something that has lodged in my mind, like a 1970s-era toilet paper commercial aired on late-night television. In short, it’s something stuck in my mind for as long as I’m likely to have a mind. (Obnoxious commercials have a particularly sticky quality, after all.)
I don’t know much about horology, but my exposure to its rich depths of this study is—in and of itself—a marker of time. In Prague, I developed an interest in horology because of a single clock.
The Prague Astronomical Clock, known in Czech as Pražký orloj (Prah-zh-kee Or loy) was first erected in 1410, making it the oldest still-functioning astronomical clock in the world. Among astronomical clocks in general (working and non-working) it is the third oldest; the fact that it still works is probably the single reason why people travel to Prague from all over the world to see what time it is. The fact that it still works exists at the core of my budding, still-largely-embryonic interest in horology. The Prague Astronomical Clock is more than a simple time-keeper. It is—as someone in Star Trek might say, a chronometric life form…or something like that.
I found this image in my email-consigned files. I laughed with glee, as memories of one particular day flooded into my mind. I’d gone to Old Town Square to visit Štepán; I had his old job at the Golden Sickle hostel and he had a new job as a rather tall, exceptionally-blond waiter at an expensive café within easy view of the orloj. I’d gone to visit Štepán and drink coffee, but Štepán had other plans, and so I had beer instead of coffee, though on later occasions, I had coffee in tiny, white cups emblazoned with the red,Illy logo. I think that it was the beer (Gambrinus: named for the patron saint of brewers) that inspired this image. Or maybe this marks my first, tentative step into the land of Agara. At any rate, this image (and the moment it names) languished in an email-copy, only to re-emerge now in all of its glory.
I’m sure there’s a lot I can say about this image, but I can’t exactly think of anything coherent, and so I’ll simply stop here and allow myself to bask in a memory of beer, Štepán, and an ocean of tourists, unaware of another country (Agara) violating the laws of physics and occupying precisely the same spot as Prague’s Old Town Square.
As always, thank you for viewing, reading, and commenting, and I hope you’re all having a great week.
Comments (20)
Faemike55
Absolutey fascinating discussion and image thank you so much for sharing the information, the image and your memories it is well-worth our time
Celart
Great work. Study and shot. Thank you.
sandra46
EXCELLENT WORK!
PREECHER
i too have a fascination with clocks and time as it slips away...lol...this is a lovely photo of a beautiful work of art...i'll have to post my illy photo just for you...you just brought back some memories for me...anyway again a very interesting photo that i'm sure will stand the test of time... have a wonderful evening... chills and thrills
weesel
I want one!
treasureprints
What a beautiful clock!:)
evielouise
I ditto mike all the way thanks a bunch the image is super !~
KatesFriend
It looks like it functions as a 24 hour clock. Something of a rarity for that time. Indeed, the fact that our day is split into two 12 hour cycles is a consequence of the prohibitive complexity of a 24 hour clock. Thanks for all the info on this glorious mechanism. The notion that any mechanical device can continue to perform its duties after six centuries is (and I know how you love this word) awesome. Imagine not just the complex design work of this clock but all the efforts and dedication to make it as eternal as the time it was made to measure. It's a shame that it is wrapped in such a beautiful facade. Imagine the wonders to behold in just witnessing its internal mechanisms. Perhaps causality made into poetry. Beautiful photo
beachzz
Wow, all the details and parts and pieces of this are just gorgeous. What a wonderful piece of work!
kgb224
Superb capture my friend. God Bless.
durleybeachbum
A curious and astonishing object, and I enjoyed the ramblings..
BessieB
An interesting description of a day in your life Chip, always fascinating and i understand how you have acquired your interest after seeing this wonderful piece of machinery, though I can honestly say I don't always understand what you say as your mental creativity is far more superior than mine.
Crabbycabby
Fascinating.
jclP
Superb capture and interesing
MrsRatbag
Hmm, chronometrical entities...now my mind is spinning. What a gorgeous clock!
T.Rex
Beautiful photo! There's a similar one in Lund Cathedral (Lund, Sweden). It was unfortunately in bad order during the 1700s, but restored in the 1800s and again last year. It's a 24 hour clock with calendar (days, dates and years) covering a few centuries. It's from the same time period, and may even be by the same master horologist. If I can find a photo in my files, I'll post it. Keep up the good work! :-)
photosynthesis
What a fascinating construction. It has a quality of ornate craftsmanship to it that definitely belongs to another era. The one thing that bothers me is the tilt - I wish you had rotated it to straighten it out... "The only reason for time is so that everything doesn't happen at once." - Albert Einstein
auntietk
I can see how this object alone could have spawned Agara. What a fabulous thing! Living with it daily (as it were) for so long must have caused your brain to work overtime!
flavia49
wonderful image
danapommet
Extremely ornate clock and just the type that I like! I’ll have to Google “horology” next.