Influences: Astrological Clock

Another inspiration for my film short comes from the Astronomical Clock in Prague. I visited the city two years ago and saw the hourly display of the clockwork figures including the apostles and the 'Four Evils', depictions of Vanity, Greed, the Turkish Invader and of course Death as a skeleton holding an hour glass. The clock was originally installed in the tower in 1410 and since then has been updated at added too by a series of clockmakers and artists.

Legends of the Clockwork Reaper

There are many legends connected with the clock itself and two in particular involving the Death figure. The first tale is of an imprisoned Knight held in the clock tower, this doubled as a jail for aristocrats. When the clockwork skeleton opened mouth during it's hourly display it caught a sparrow in it's mouth and the bird had to wait until the next hourly display to be released. The knight saw this as a good omen and sure enough he was granted a pardon.

The other legend is not so positive, if the clock were to stop running and the Death figure continued to nod it's head it would spell bad tidings for the Czech Republic.

Incorporating this last legend into my beach scene Vanitas I will link the bell toll sound with the clockwork motion of the skull.

Link:

http://www.orloj.eu/en/orloj_historie.htm