Letβs admit it: astronomical clocks are probably one of the most charming types of historical monument, and theyβve had their halcyon days during Modern times, in Europe and elsewhere. Due to my ongoing research, I had to study a few of them, so I thought I could post here some findings Iβve found interesting.
1.They were not a European-only affair.
Su SongΒ Β θι’, the Chinese polymath of the XII century, engineered of one of the firstΒ astronomicalΒ clock towerΒ in medievalΒ Kaifeng, which employed the use of a hydro-mechanical mechanism.Β 
2. Obviously enough, although surprisingly for us now, astronomical clocks represented the solar system according PtolemyβsΒ geocentricΒ model. The center of the dial is often marked with a disc or sphere representing the earth, located at the center of the solar system. The sun is therein represented by a golden sphere.
3. There are often other motives into the clocks, like in the world-famous Pragueβs model in the Old Town Hall, build in 1410. You can see the four figures are set in motion at the hour, with Death (represented by a skeleton) striking the time. Itβs maybe due to the Black Death, which swept the whole Europe in between 1347-1350, leaving behind a morbid iconography like the Danse Macabre.
Below you can find a few examples -feel free to query me if you want to know more about this amazing artifacts.
Rouen, Le Gros Horloge
Strasbourg -Astronomical Clock
Astronomical Clock of Lyon
I don’t need to raise that proverbial eyebrow π to declare how fascinating that is!
Thanks for sharing!
Incredible, isn’t it? I have just started looking into them and…wow π
They are indeed magical things – clocks… I LOVE the Corpus Christi clock in Cambridge, which isn’t an astronomical clock, exactly but has borrowed some of the aspects of the more famous clocks from around the world.
Wow, I didn’t know about that one. I’ll put it on my notebook! Thanks so much!!
It’s a modern one, but it has a fascinating backstory…
These are so beautiful that I lose track of how they’re supposed to work and wander off thinking of them as themes for embroidery.
Indeed! You’re so right π