#astronomical tower

[hopefully-thriving]

Sometimes the lesser known places are the most amazing

[tothesuccess]

12.O3.17 // Hi, everyone 👋🌸 I just wanted you to know that I'm really happy since I've celebrated my birthday in Prague and it was the best gift of my life ! The city was stunning. I'm speechless. I fell literally in love with it. We've spent 4 days here and today we're going back home because I would like to celebrate this important day with my dearest friends and my family (beyond my mother and my grandma that are here with me). Tomorrow I'm going to start studying and I will do my best in order to recover from a bad session of exams, but today I'm not going to think about anything negative.

[zkomorebi-blog]

Praha. -Giada

[softrobotcritics]

*A simulation of the Su Sung astronomical clock tower of 1089 AD, a Chinese water-powered “Cosmic Engine.”

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Su_Song

Su Song (simplified Chinese: 苏颂; traditional Chinese: 蘇頌; pinyin: Sū Sòng; Pe̍h-ōe-jī: So͘ Siōng; courtesy name: Zirong 子容)[1] (1020–1101 AD) was a Chinese polymathic scientist and statesman. Excelling in a variety of fields, he was accomplished in mathematics, astronomy, cartography, geography, horology, pharmacology, mineralogy, metallurgy, zoology, botany, mechanical engineering, hydraulic engineering, civil engineering, architecture, invention, art, poetry, philosophy, antiquities, and statesmanship during the Song Dynasty (960–1279).

Su Song was the engineer for a hydro-mechanical astronomical clock tower in medieval Kaifeng, which employed the use of an early escapement mechanism.[2][3][4][5] The escapement mechanism of Su's clock tower had been invented by Buddhist monk Yi Xing and government official Liang Lingzan in 725 AD to operate a water-powered armillary sphere, although Su's armillary sphere was the first to be provided with a mechanical clock drive.[5][6][7] Su's clock tower also featured the oldest known endless power-transmitting chain drive, called the tian ti (天梯), or "celestial ladder", as depicted in his horological treatise.[8] The clock tower had 133 different clock jacks to indicate and sound the hours.[9] 

Su Song's treatise about the clock tower, Xinyi Xiangfayao (新儀象法要), has survived since its written form in 1092 and official printed publication in 1094. The book has been analyzed by many historians, such as Joseph Needham. The clock itself, however, was dismantled by the invading Jurchen army in 1127 AD, and although attempts were made to reassemble it, the tower was never successfully reinstated....

[footprintsonearthblog]

Exploring the Old Town

view from the Astronomical Tower

Old Town Square

Church

[hyliandancer]

[theprincessbard]

Klementinum

Prague has always been on the wishlist, bucketlist, call it what ever you like list…it’s full of history and beauty. I recently discovered the Klementinum.

The site dates back to the 11th century when a chapel was dedicated to St Clement.It’s been a monastery and a Jesuit college since then. In 1773 Empress Maria Theresa established the Klementinum as a university, library and observatory and…

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[gin85]

Views of Prague from the Astronomical Tower in Klementinum.