Prague Meridian — Attraction in Prague

The Prague meridian is marked by the metal belt south of the Jan Hus Monument, a differently paved line and a metal plate with the inscription "MERIDIANUS QUO OLIM TEMPUS PRAGENSE DIRIGEBATUR" (with the Czech translation - The Meridianfrom which the Prague time was derived from in the past), which was built in the 1990s. The Shadow of the Marian pillar on the pavement of Old Town Square overlaid the meridian line in the right noon. It served since 1652. The exact Prague time (Tempus Pragense) was determined in the Astronomical tower of the Clementinum by more accurate sundial. The time difference between the Observatory in Klementinum and the meridian marked by the shadow of the Marian Pillar is only one second and was therefore negligible for everyday life.

Pražský poledník je vyznačen jižně od pomníku Jana Husa kovovým pásem, odlišně dlážděnou čarou a kovovou deskou s nápisem: "MERIDIANUS QUO OLIM TEMPUS PRAGENSE DIRIGEBATUR" (Poledník, podle něhož byl v minulosti řízen pražský čas), osazenou v 90. letech 20. století. Stín Mariánského sloupu na dlažbě Staroměstského náměstí v pravé poledne překryl čáru poledníku. Sloužil od roku 1652. Přesný pražský čas (Tempus Pragense) byl sice určován v Astronomické věži Klementina pomocí štěrbinových slunečních hodin. Časový rozdíl mezi observatoří v Klementinu a poledníkem vyznačeným stínem Mariánského sloupu činí pouhou jednu sekundu a byl tedy pro běžný život zanedbatelný. Od roku 1842 se poledne z věže ohlašováno mávnutím praporu, které bylo od roku 1891 do 20. let 20. století doprovázeno výstřelem z děla z hradní bašty číslo XIX - v těsném sousedství zahrad...

From ancient shadow clocks used in Babylon to the Egyptian obelisks to the hemispherical Greek sundial found in Al Khanoum in Afghanistan, the brief history of time is not all that brief. One such piece of history is this brass plaque in Prague’s Old Town Square with inscriptions in Czech and Latin. Its English translation: “Meridian, according to which time in Prague was determined.” According to Prague city records, when the shadow of the now-missing Meridian column in the town square coincided with this strip, it was assumed to be noon in Prague. This strip was used as a reference point from 1652 to 1918, when the Meridian column was destroyed in a rebellion against the Habsburg monarchy. The records further cite that around 1842, a flag was waved midday to inform the locals of the time. Between 1891 and 1918 a shot from a cannon was fired to improve time telling. The measurement of time using a shadow cast on a reference scale may not be used today, but these monuments are glorious reminders of the value of time that run across epochs and...

Located on the Old Town Square, it can easily be overlooked considering other attractions in the region such as the Astronomical Clock for example. It is located south of the Jan Hus Monument and formerly marked 12 p.m. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the Marian pillar no longer exists, this natural clock no longer serves any function other than as a tourist attraction. The text on it is in Czech and Latin and translates as "The Meridianfrom which the Prague time was derived from in the past". For the Czechs, time obviously has a special meaning given the fact that they still have "Old Czech Time". I wouldn't exactly call the metal plate and line to it a tourist attraction, but it's certainly interesting to note when...