Science History Tour 2005/2007

Astronomical Clocks

David A. Katz Chemist, Educator, Expert Demonstrator, Science Communicator, and Consultant 133 N. Desert Stream Dr. * Tucson, AZ 85745-2277 * USA voice/fax: (520) 624-2207 * email: [email protected] Prague 2005

Marienkirche ‐ Lubeck 2007 • The Protestant Marienkirche (Marien zu Lübeck) was constructed between 1250 and 1350. In 1398, the building collapsed and was rebuilt as a high‐rising Gothic style of France. At 38.5 meters (125 ft) the church has the highest brick vault in the world. Taking the weather vanes into account, the towers are 124.95 meters (406 ft) and 124.75 meters (405.5 ft) high.

• On the night of Palm Sunday, 28 March 1942, the church was almost completely burnt out during an Allied bombing raid.

• Reconstruction began in 1947 and 12 years later the majority of this was complete.

• The astronomical clock was built in 1561 through to 1566. It was completely destroyed in 1942. Only one dial (which had been replaced with an earlier restoration) remains in the St. Annen Museum. The new Astronomical Clock was constructed on the East side of the Northern transept in the "Death dance" chapel. It is the work of Paul Behrens, a clockmaker in Lübeck, who planned it as his lifetime achievement from 1960 ‐ 1967, collected donations for it and constructed the elements of the clock himself. He also maintained the clock until his death.

• The clockface is a simplified duplicate of the original. With a complicated mechanical system, the clock shows planetary positions, phases of the sun and moon, signs of the zodiac (astronomically, not astrologically), the date on which Easter falls and the Golden Ratio.

• At 12 o'clock midday the bells ring out and the movement of the figures before Christ consecrating spurs into action. The figures were originally Electors; after post‐war reconstruction they are now eight representatives of the different races and peoples of the world.

Marienkirche Rostock 2007

St. Nicolai Church Stralsund 2007