Water clock

**جوري** · 08-13-2006

I have been looking for a looooooooooooooooooooooong time for the water clock that marked the hours by dropping bronze balls into a bowl, as mechanical knights — one for each hour — emerged from little doors which shut behind them. The presents were unprecedented in Western Europe and may have influenced Carolingian art. which was given by Harun al-Rashid (Aaron the Upright ) to Charlemagne as a gift along with others.... I have looked and looked and looked and advertised every where... I have become sort of obsessed really I just need to know what it looks like... I bought many islamic art history books in search of the "clock" whereas I enjoy the girth of my library... It doesn't have the item I want to see the most

so please any of you out there well learned in art history or history in general and have an idea to which museum this belongs... or have some sort of diagram or mock drawing I'd be much obliged

**Woodrow** · 08-19-2006

Reading this description of the clock it sounds very much like the famous "Apostles" Clock in the Square by the Mozart Museum. I'll check it out.

Of the respect entertained for him by foreign nations an interesting
proof is afforded in the embassy sent to him by the Caliph of the
Arabians, the celebrated Haroun al Raschid, a prince in character
and conduct not unlike to Charlemagne. The ambassadors brought with
them, besides other rich presents, a clock, the first that was seen in
Europe, which excited universal admiration. It had the form of a
twelve-sided edifice with twelve doors. These doors formed niches,
in each of which was a little statue representing one of the hours. At
the striking of the hour the doors, one for each stroke, were seen
to open, and from the doors to issue as many of the little statues,
which, following one another, marched gravely round the tower. The
motion of the clock was caused by water, and the striking was effected
by balls of brass equal to the number of the hours, which fell upon
a cymbal of the same metal, the number falling being determined by the
discharge of the water, which, as it sunk in the vessel, allowed their
escape.

it sounds very much like the famous "Apostles" Clock in the Square by the Mozart Museum. I'll check it out.

**جوري** · 08-19-2006

Thank you....

**Woodrow** · 08-19-2006

The clock shown in this link is the clock in the Bell tower in Prague. I would suspect the lower mechanism with 12 figures is patterned after Charlemagnes clock.

I doubt very much that the original clock still exists but it seems the clock may have influenced clock makers in the Vienna Prague area and I'll bet at least a few will operate like Charlemagnes did.

http://www.pbase.com/mambocha/image/23442766

**Woodrow** · 08-19-2006

This link will take you to a page about Al-Jazari the 6th century Arabic Engineer who invented the principles for the pumps and floats that operated those neat water powered mechanical clocks. Some neat diagrams of some he built and how they worked.

Combine this page with the lower portion of the Prague clock and you will have a good idea as to what Charlemagnes clock looked like and how it operated.

Thanks for starting this thread. Now I discovered Al-Jazari he surpasses Da Vinci. Talk about a genius being ahead of his time. Truly fantastic Mashallah

OOOOps almost for got the link:

http://www.muslimheritage.com/topics...?ArticleID=188

**جوري** · 08-19-2006

Thank you for all that work you have done.... I always got the same four websites and people I requested help from gave up the search as it proved futile... the upside is I got many amazing books about Islamic art, and inventions, and now I got to learn so much from all of you
[MOUSE]bro woodrow a special thank you[/MOUSE]

**Woodrow** · 08-19-2006

Jazakallahu Khairan, it is you who deserves the thanks. Because of your question I learned much about Al-Jazari and that means I gained much more then you did. I am pleased to knopw that you at least gained a littlr progress in your quest.

**جوري** · 08-19-2006

please don't be so modest.... I was hurt once to know that at some point knowledge will die with people of knowledge and wanted to learn all I can about Islam... even though I was born Muslim... I'd say I have become especially interested in the religion from all facets around 6 years ago...So strange that one day you recite the quran in class because it is your homework and one day just by chance you realize this is from God.... I think bros and sisters who convert/revert are much better than some of Us who are born Muslim... somehow I have taken it all for granted.... Anyhow Thank you again... and hope we continue to learn lots from each other... inshallah ... I wish I knew how to add smilies in the quick reply? or when giving feedback? lol
=)