Our first night in Prague.
We had dinner at Old Town Square with Pam's son, Ryan and his friend, Kevin. Notice the Jan Hus Memorial across the square behind us.
You can also see a stage set up for a live concert.
Kevin, Pam and Ryan
The Jan Hus Memorial is overshadowed by Tyn Church.
The Jan Hus Monument was erected in 1915, on the 500th anniversary of his death.
He was burned at the stake for his heretical preachings against the Roman Catholic Church.
Hus's death eventually led to the bloody Hussite Wars (1420-34).
The sculpture portrays the preacher surrounded by figures representing both the oppressed and the defiant, and a young mother, symbolizing national rebirth.
The Church of Our Lady before Tyn dominates Old Town Square with it's distinctive Gothic steeples.
Notice that one steeple is larger than the other, in order to represent Adam and Eve.
The first stone was laid in 1350, but due to religious turmoil, the church was not completed until 1511.
The Old Town Hall and Clock Tower was established in 1338 by King John of Luxemburg.
Originally, there were two towers. The Prague Uprising in May 1945 successfully led to the city's liberation from the Nazi occupation. However, nearly 1700 Czechs lost their lives in this rebellion. One town hall tower was totally demolished.
The tower that remains today was decapitated during the rebellion.
It was soon restored to its full height of 215 feet.
The Astronomical Clock is on the other side of this tower.
The Astronomical Clock is on the other side of this tower.
When the Astronomical Clock was first revealed in 1410, it represented the cutting edge of medieval technology. On the hour, the two windows open and twelve saints appear in rotation.
The clock contains an elaborate astrolabe displaying the movement of the sun, moon and zodiacal constellations, in addition to telling time in three formats: Central European, Old Bohemian and Babylonian.
An hourly procession of twelve saints was added in the 17th century, as well as a group of allegorical figures reflecting cultural stereotypes of the time - Death as a skeleton (next photo), Vanity as a figure holding a gilded mirror (above), Delight portrayed as a Turk (below), and Greed in the guise of a moneylender (above).
As the hour nears, Death inverts his hourglass, Delight shakes his head, Vanity glances into a mirror, Greed looks on enviously, and the twelve saints, led by St. Peter, emerge from two windows and proceed slowly around.
In 1866 the revolving dial on Prague's astronomical clock was replaced by a a new one fashioned by celebrated artist Josef Manes. Individual months are symbolized by scenes from peasant life, corresponding with the signs of the zodiac painted on medallions.
You can take a 20-minute ride around Old Town in a horse drawn carriage for about $40.
Six hundred years of history are represented by the building and sculpture of Old Town Square.
Jeannette
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