Zytglogge
Encyclopedia : Z : ZY : ZYT : Zytglogge
The Zytglogge tower (German: Zeitglocke) in Bern, Switzerland is famous for its astronomical clock from the 16th century. The hand symbol displays the position of the sun (left is east, top is south, right is west), while a gold-and-black ball shows the phase of the moon. -
The angle between these two marks the lunar phase.
The Zodiac is the moving part. The three concentric golden circles show the maximum height of the sun in the summer (outer-most circle), in the spring or autumn (middle circle) and in winter (innermost circle).
At the right-hand side of the astronomical clock is a carillon, which moves every hour, starting 4 minutes before(!) the full hour. It also sounds small bells by means of a 'Jester', indicating the number of the next hour.
While the Jester rings his two bells alternately, a roundabout of 7 bears rotates, representing the (ever recurring) days of the week: the first bear, mounted on a white horse, symbolizes Sunday, the beginning of the week; it is followed by 6 work-day bears (Monday through Saturday), each symbolizing a different profession.
The observant on-looker will note, that the 4th bear turns its head when coming out. - That's because it symbolizes Wednesday, the 'turn of the week' (also referred to as 'hump-day' in the USA).
When the full hour arrives, 'the little man in rubber boots sitting on a golden chair' starts counting the hour by visibly moving his bearded chin while moving a golden rod (perhaps a sceptre?) left-right-left. [Find out who he is!] He is 'morally supported' by a little golden 'Lion' on the right (i.e. his left) who vigorously shakes his head for each count.
At the same time (somewhat difficult to observe simultaneously), a huge golden male figure (John Bywood) in the very top of the tower (supposedly) rings the big bell up there, one stroke for each full hour. All of this is initiated by the crowing of a 'Rooster' (while he flaps his wings), who also crows at the middle of the show and eventually finishes it off.
From Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Original article here. Support Wikipedia by contributing or donating.
All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License See Wikipedia Copyrights for details.