Talk:Prague astronomical clock

age?

I don't believe this to be the 'oldest working astronomical clock in the world. We have several in England that are older, a prime example being the one in Wimborne Minster where I grew up for which we have a repair bill from 1409

https://wiki.riteme.site/wiki/Wimborne_Minster_(church)#The_clock — Preceding unsigned comment added by 65.51.190.48 (talk) 21:43, 28 January 2014 (UTC)

@ 9 Oct 2015, says "the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world" but still no citation. 129.67.47.102 (talk) 08:43, 9 October 2015 (UTC)

Wimborne Minster Clock's mechanism was replaced in 1695 and the present works were installed in 1792. From 1410 comes Orloj's mechanical clock machine and astronomical dial. "Third oldest" source: 1. Jirka.h23 (talk) 08:54, 11 November 2018 (UTC)

greed?

the greed statue is actually 'the jew with his money bags' because of stereotypical jews as rich and wealthy. should this not be mentioned? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 172.216.180.15 (talk) 17:47, 21 February 2008 (UTC)

Probably not, for any number of reasons. Moonraker12 (talk) 14:58, 27 February 2008 (UTC)

It probably should be, in reference to the historical period in which the animated figures were added. If so, it should be noted that the figure is interpreted today as an allegorical symbol of usury or greed. Likewise the Turk is sometimes re-interpreted today as representing sloth or luxury. I do not have any sources to cite on this, however, and will wait to add this until I can refer to a credible source.72.213.144.148 (talk) 23:14, 5 April 2008 (UTC)

I can find no citations which claim that the figure was meant to be a jew, and even if it was it should be noted in historical context and cited. Someone had changed it to "stereotypical jew" (which is quite a bit more offensive). I have changed to "miser" (as the official page for the clock refers to the figure) - I forgot to login before doing so, but the last change is by me. Getdave (talk) 20:13, 25 March 2012 (UTC)

"Finally, the Turk tells pleasure and entertainment." Should that not be "sells"? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 199.46.200.232 (talk) 00:56, 25 February 2012 (UTC)

Re. naming the statues as the 'Turk' and the 'Jew', why name the 'Turk' as 'Turk'? Shouldn't it be called an 'Infidel'? (i.e. a non-Christian, but typically one of Muslim faith)? Weren't the statues intended to be deliberately offensive against these two non-Christian faiths? The 'greedy Jewish miser' and 'the pleasure-seeking Infidel' (that is, a Muslim, in the late C15th) are both deeply offensive stereotypes, but of primarily religious stereotypes (and only secondarily as racial or national stereotypes). NB I'm certainly not defending these prejudices, only seeking historical clarification in the article. Note also that I haven't changed anything on the page itself. ---- Rosemary1970

File:Czech-2013-Prague-Astronomical clock face.jpg to appear as POTD

Hello! This is a note to let the editors of this article know that File:Czech-2013-Prague-Astronomical clock face.jpg will be appearing as picture of the day on August 2, 2015. You can view and edit the POTD blurb at Template:POTD/2015-08-02. If this article needs any attention or maintenance, it would be preferable if that could be done before its appearance on the Main Page. Thanks! — Chris Woodrich (talk) 00:07, 14 July 2015 (UTC)

Picture of the day

The face of the Prague astronomical clock in the Old Town Square of Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic. The dial takes the form of a mechanical astrolabe, a device used in medieval astronomy, and represents the standing Earth and sky; surrounding it are four moving components: the zodiacal ring, an outer rotating ring, an icon representing the Sun, and an icon representing the Moon. The clock was installed in 1410 by clockmakers Mikuláš of Kadaň and Jan Šindel.Photograph: Andrew Shiva

Oldest

I moved "The clock was first installed in 1410, making it the third-oldest astronomical clock in the world." here until referenced. The two older ones need to be named to be able to fact check the statement. We also need to know if we are ranking extant astronomical clocks or functioning astronomical clocks or all astronomical clocks including those destroyed. --RAN (talk) 23:43, 7 December 2017 (UTC)

Citation: "The clock, as you've seen it, is the oldest mechanical machine in the world. What is behind the astrolabe is the oldest work of human hands that has been moving for over 600 years. Nothing like this is in the world" - author of the reconstruction project of the Old Town Hall tower, architect Petr Malinský. 1 The Prague Astronomical Clock is the third oldest in the world - 2. Jirka.h23 (talk) 08:20, 11 November 2018 (UTC)

It's obviously not the oldest mechanical machine in the world. What the quote says is that its the oldest mechanical machine in the world that is still running, a much less doubtful claim. 78.43.32.50 (talk) 03:39, 30 June 2021 (UTC)

Of course not the oldest at all. That's what the source says: "the oldest work of human hands that has been moving". Jirka.h23 (talk) 04:36, 30 June 2021 (UTC)

Simulator links

There had been a link for a Prague Astronomical Clock simulator here before, and I added a link to an updated simulator. This resulted in another editor removing both links. I thought that was a mistake, and reverted the edit that removed both links. They got removed again by that same editor, who thought they really, really didn't belong here. I wasn't going to bother with the hassle of arguing over it, and thought I'd just drop the matter, but I see now at least one other user (Kraljmatjaz) had checked out the simulations and thought they were a valuable addition.

The simulations are, in my opinion, a very good way to get to understand how to read the clock and understand how it works, and explore things like how location (particularly latitude) figures into the design of an astronomical clock. Kshetline (talk) 19:45, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

You forgot to disclose your WP:COI with regard to one of the links, which I will remind you is required by Wikipedia policy. MrOllie (talk) 20:03, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

Yes, I do have a non-commercial connection to the newer simulator, as the developer of the software. I had help from the current clock master, Petr Král, for ensuring the accuracy of the simulation. Kshetline (talk) 20:22, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

I have no COI, and reviewed both the article at the simulator, and i will gladly vouch for the addition of the link. If MrOllie answers again with his - and I don't want to use any more adjectives - arguments, let me make it clear that I have no personal connections to the user Kshetline and to the page of link nor any emotional feelings towards MrOllie. Kraljmatjaz (talk) 22:30, 27 April 2022 (UTC)

Daylight saving

I took a photo of the clock some days ago, and reading this article, I realized the clock does not follow daylight saving, it always shows winter time. It was some minutes before 6.30 am but the handle is between V and VI as if it were 5.30. I assume, since daylight saving was invented later than the clock itself was made, the clock mechanics make it impossible to follow daylight saving. If it is true and there is information about it, I think it would be worth mentioning. CERBERUS - ii iv iii (talk) 01:59, 17 July 2024 (UTC)