665 years ago, they started building the Charles Bridge in Prague. Magical symbolism and mystery helped
From the beginning, the Charles Bridge has been accompanied by symbolism and mystery. The moment of laying the foundation stone was therefore carefully chosen by astrologers and Charles IV, who was also an initiated mystic.
Horse riders in period costumes also took part in the 665th anniversary celebration over the weekend.
Photo: Reuters
From an astrological point of view, all the known planets were then above the horizon and the Sun, Mercury and Saturn were in conjunction with each other. The Sun was in the ascendant of the sign of Leo, i.e. the heraldic symbol of the Kingdom of Bohemia. The magical series of numbers that was created at the exact moment when the foundation stone was laid, i.e. 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1, was supposed to protect the most.
Astronomical-astrological unity
Like the cathedral at Prague Castle, Charles Bridge is also dedicated to St. Vitus. Both monuments are an example of the efforts of Charles IV. about astronomical-astrological unity.
At the time of the summer solstice, when viewed from the Old Town Bridge Tower, the Sun sets exactly behind the St. Vitus Cathedral. Even before that, he will pass behind the cathedral tower, which rises above the chapel of St. Wenceslas, the patron saint of the Czech lands. And he ends his pilgrimage directly above the place where the remains of St. Vitus are kept in the temple.
Those interested in a unique spectacle had to get up quite a bit: the procession arrived at the bridge already at five in the morning.
Photo: Reuters
In addition, in the name of the cathedral, Charles IV. he also revived the tradition encrypted in the consonance of the names Vít and Svantovít (Slavic god of the Sun, war and peace).
Even the Old Town Bridge Tower itself, which was intended at the same time as a triumphal arch on the Royal Road between Prague Castle and Vyšehrad, the coronation pilgrimage of Czech kings, is full of symbolism. Its sculptures, numbers and placement of the decorative elements of the facade have a cosmological and astrological meaning corresponding to the time of creation.