Prague Meridian: A Line Through Time

The Prague Meridian, a discreet yet historically significant marker, lies in the heart of Old Town Square. This brass strip, inlaid in the cobblestones, marks the meridian that, from 1652 to 1918, dictated Prague's time. Before the advent of widespread accurate timekeeping, the shadow cast by the Marian Column (originally erected in 1650) onto this line indicated solar noon. Following the consecration of the Marian Column in 1652, city authorities marked the Prague Meridian with a line of stones. This meridian was calculated to be 14 degrees, 25 minutes, and 17 seconds east. When the sun shone and the column's shadow aligned with this line, it was precisely midday in Prague. The Marian Column was torn down in 1918, shortly after Czechoslovakia gained independence. In 1990, during renovations of Old Town Square, the meridian was re-marked with a granite and brass strip, accompanied by a ground plate inscribed in both Czech and Latin. The inscription translates to: "Meridian, according to which time in Prague was determined". While the meridian no longer serves its original purpose, it stands as a testament to Prague's historical relationship with time and astronomy. Today, a replica of the Marian Column has been erected, and at noon, its shadow once again aligns with the Prague meridian.