Tartarian Buildings and Architecture. 12

This is the Prague Astronomical Clock (or Pražský orloj), located on the southern wall of the Old Town Hallin the Old Town Square of Prague, Czech Republic.

Photo and Location Details
• Location: It is situated in the heart of Prague’s historic center.
• The Photograph: This specific black-and-white print dates to approximately 1890–1905. You can see the clock essentially as it looked after its major 19th-century restoration but before the damage it sustained in the 20th century.
• Key Features Shown:
◦ The Astronomical Dial: The upper circle representing the position of the Sun and Moon.
◦ The Calendar Dial: The lower circle, added around 1490 and replaced in 1865 with paintings by Josef Mánes.
◦ The Walk of the Apostles: The windows at the very top where mechanical figures parade every hour.

Brief History
• 1410: The oldest mechanical parts were installed by clockmaker Mikuláš of Kadaň and astronomer Jan Šindel. It is the oldest astronomical clock still in operation in the world.
• 15th-17th Century: Gothic sculptures and moving figures like the skeleton (Death) were added to the facade.
• 1945: During the Prague Uprising at the end of WWII, the Old Town Hall was shelled and the clock was severely damaged by fire.
• 1948–2018: The clock has undergone several meticulous restorations to maintain its original medieval mechanism and appearance.