Mystical places of Prague. What kind of mystical Prague is it? Grim dance of death
Prague is rightfully considered one of the most mystical cities in Europe. Those who crave mysticism and witchcraft are recommended to get acquainted with Czech witches, golems, ghosts, sorcerers and other evil spirits.
BURNING OF A WITCH
Unbelievable but true. Witches are still burned in Prague. True, not living flesh and blood, but stuffed animals depicting Satan’s minions. The event, somewhat reminiscent of our Maslenitsa, takes place in Ladronka Park on the night of April 30 to May 1.
In the photo: a still from the film “Monty Python and the Holy Grail”
In addition to the “witches”, sausages are fried on the fires, and the people enjoy beer libations. The date was not chosen by chance - the night from April 30 to May 1 bore the name of Walpurgis in the old days. It was believed that it was at this time that the boundaries between the material world and the world of spirits expanded, and witches held an annual Sabbath on Bald Mountain.
On other days, Prague witches can be seen in the city bazaars; toys in the form of “the devil’s mistresses” are constantly sold here. If you clap your hands next to the dolls, the eyes of the toy witches “light up”, and the ladies in hats burst into ominous laughter.
GOLEM OF THE JEWISH QUARTER
The Golem is a character from the legends of the Jewish ghetto. According to legend, in March 1580, the Chief Rabbi of Prague, Lev ben Bezalel, created a clay figure about one meter fifty in height, and then breathed life into it using cabalistic spells.
The clay robot was named Golem, and was used by the rabbi to protect the Jewish people and help with housework. The rabbi revived his “assistant” with the help of a tablet (shem) with the name of God, which he put into the Golem’s mouth. One day the rabbi forgot to take the Golem Shem out of his mouth, it came to life, began to grow in size, and then rebelled and set off to destroy everything around (apparently, he wanted to get paid, or thus asked for a well-deserved vacation).
In the photo: Golem in a modern interpretation
The golem was pacified (read: killed) by removing a magic shem from its mouth. The clay body of the monster was kept for many years in the attic of the Old New Synagogue, from where it later disappeared in an unknown direction.
PRAGUE ALCHEMISTS
By far the most famous alchemist, medium and mystic to reside in Prague was Edward Kelly. The alchemist was famous for his ability to summon spirits and angels using a crystal ball and supposedly could turn any metal into gold.
In the photo: Alchemists Museum and Bar, sign
It was he, and not Doctor Faust, who lived in the House of Faust at Karlovo namesti 40. Today, in the Mala Strana region, in the house “At the Donkey’s Cradle,” an alchemy museum is opened, entirely dedicated to the dubious activities of Edward Kelly.
In the next building there is the Alchemists bar, quiet and very cozy. The interior of the establishment is decorated with a variety of pipes, flasks and other items for the production of the philosopher's stone.
PRAGUE GHOSTS
Like any decent Gothic city, Prague is home to many ghosts. Naturally, ghosts prefer to settle in the historical center of the city.
In the photo: map of the haunts of Prague
The most famous Prague ghost is the spirit of Jan Hus, a preacher and ideologist of the Czech Reformation, who openly criticized the policies of the Catholic Church and was burned along with his works on June 6, 1415 in the German city of Constance.
It is believed that the ghost can be seen at night near the Bethlehem Chapel, where Hus preached during his lifetime. According to another version, the spirit of the Bethlem Chapel is the ghost of Master Palech, mourning the execution of Huss. The second ghost is the symbol of Prague - the spirit of Jachim Berha; there is even a monument to him near the town hall. During his life, he was a military man and, returning from the war, believed the gossip that his bride was unfaithful to him. As a result, Yachim married someone else, and his ex-fiancee committed suicide.
In the photo: a monument to a ghost in Prague
Soon, Jachim’s wife became an alcoholic, and therefore Berhi strangled her at the first opportunity, after which he hanged himself in his own house on Good Friday. Now the soul of Jachim appears on Platner Street once every hundred years in the hope of talking to an innocent girl. If this happens, the ghost will finally calm down, but, as we know, there is tension with innocent girls in Europe now, so Jachim’s torment continues to this day.
In the photo: a still from the film “The Well and the Pendulum”
On Wallenstein Square you can see the spirit of trumpeter Ruprecht. They say that Ruprecht made a bet with another musician that he could blow the trumpet continuously for 10 minutes. Unfortunately, on this day the Prague prince had a toothache, and he went on a rampage, that is, he ran around the neighborhood and cut off the heads of everyone who came to hand with a saber. Because the trumpeter was blowing, the prince cut off his head too. Since then, the ghost has taken to the streets of Prague, holding a pipe in one hand and a head in the other.
In the photo: a still from the film “Sleepy Hollow”
Among the Prague ghosts there are also expats, for example, a French major who commanded the soldiers who took Prague in 1741 and died in battle. They say that the ghost is distinguished by French gallantry, always greeting passers-by and politely raising his hat when meeting ladies.
FIRE GHOSTS
The ghosts on Kaprova Street love to “light up” in the truest sense of the word. So, here you can see the burning spirit of the university gatekeeper. They say that during his lifetime he constantly pestered students, and one day the students decided to play a bad joke on him: they dragged the gatekeeper into the basement, showed him the scaffold and proclaimed that he should perish.
The gatekeeper disappeared, but not forever. Now his ghost in the form of a figure consecrated by the flames of hell can be found on the streets of Prague. It is believed that if a student shakes the ghost’s hand, the soul of the unfortunate person will find peace. Another burning spirit that haunts the area is the miser's ghost. Died in a fire after running out of the house with a bag of money. The townspeople took his money, but they did not help the miser survive, and since then his spirit has been walking around the block at night.
Another fiery ghost lives near the Church of St. Jacob. According to legend, this is the butcher Thomas, who did not take part in the battle with the Swedes (the girl persuaded her lover not to go fight). Now his ghost walks around the church, waving a burning ax and calling everyone to battle.
GHOSTS FROM CATHEDRALS
The Church of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn is a real ghost hostel. Here lives the spirit of a Turk who decided to marry a native of Prague. The girl changed her mind a week before the wedding, and the Turk cut off her head. A ghost appears at the temple with the severed head of a bride, which she drags by the hair.
In the photo: Church of the Virgin Mary in front of Tyn
The other two ghosts of Tyn Cathedral were ladies during their lifetime. One was an aristocrat, distinguished by bad morals and tormenting everyone around her. At the end of her life, she repented, gave money to the poor and donated a gigantic sum for a new bell for the cathedral. True, this did not help her; at night the woman’s spirit rings the temple bell, installed with her own money.
The second spirit is the snow woman. Appears in Prague in winter and sweeps the area near the cathedral. They say that this woman’s husband was a church watchman, he slipped on the fresh snow and died, so after his death (his and her own) she has to tirelessly clean the paths.
St. Peter's Basilica also has its own ghost, this is the spirit of the watchman who once worked there. Usually the ghost walks nearby and invites passers-by to play cards with him (during his lifetime, the watchman was a gambling fan).
NUN, COURTESAN AND MAID
According to legend, the spirit of a headless nun can be seen on Liliovaya Street. This ghost is, so to speak, a typical victim of love passions. During life, the ghost was the daughter of a rich nobleman. The girl fell in love with a poor nobleman, which her dad really didn’t like, because he dreamed of marrying off his daughter profitably. The angry father sent his only child to a Dominican monastery, but the lovers decided not to give up, and the girl, with the assistance of her beloved, fled from the monastery.
In the photo: a still from the film “The Story of a Nun”
Of course, the ending of this story turned out to be in the style of the best horror films. The father overtook the couple and cut off his daughter's head with his own sword. The result is another Prague legend, another headless spirit. But near the Old Town Square there is a very interesting couple of spirits walking: a woman of easy virtue and a priest. One evening a chaplain was walking along Tseletnaya Street. A girl of easy virtue, seeing the priest, decided to joke and bared her breasts.
In the photo: a still from the film “Notre Dame Cathedral”, 1939
The chaplain did not appreciate the humor and pierced the prostitute’s head with a cross. True, when he saw that the girl had died, he was so upset that he died on the spot. Since then, their souls (what irony!) have been inseparable, she shows him her breasts, and he runs away. A striptease of the ghost of a fallen woman can be seen (if you're lucky) on Tseletnaya Street.
The House at the Golden Well is haunted by the spirit of a maid. The girl believed that a treasure was hidden in the well, tried to get it, but drowned, and now her ghost walks around the neighborhood. By the way, according to legend, another pair of ghosts guarded the treasure: a Spanish knight and his wife. On the way home, they stopped for the night in the House at the Well, and the owner of the house, coveting the couple’s wealth, cut off their heads.
The spirits lived in the house for a long time, until a pastry chef moved into the same building. He found the bodies in the basement and ground them. In gratitude, the ghosts told him where the treasure was buried and did not appear in the house again.
SPIRITS WITH KNIVES: ARMED AND DANGEROUS
Two Prague ghosts love to walk around the city with bladed weapons. The first is a barber who went crazy after he began to get involved in alchemy. According to legend, a ghost likes to pester passers-by with an offer to shave; you can meet the spirit on Karlova Street.
In the photo: a still from the film “Nosferatu”
But on Truhlarzhska Street you can see another dangerous ghost - the spirit of a Pirate trying to find the girl who stole his chest of money.
GHOSTS FROM THE JEWISH GHETTO
The Jewish ghetto is full of ghosts. The most famous ghost is a dancing Jewish girl who can dance passers-by to death. They say that during her life the ghost was a girl of easy virtue who was beaten and ordered to dance until the Last Judgment, so she dances.
In addition to the dancer, the Jewish ghetto is also famous for the ghost of the strangler. During life, the ghost was a beautiful Jewish woman who fell in love with a monk from the monastery of St. Nicholas. The girl secretly met with a monk in the monastery crypt, until the abbot of the monastery found out about this and sent her lover to another monastery. After everything that happened, the young lady went crazy and strangled the abbot; now her soul wanders around the ghetto in search of new victims.
In the photo: a still from Karen Elson’s video “The Truth Is In The Dirt”
Another spirit of the ghetto is a Jew who decided to be baptized during his lifetime and worked as an organist in St. Vitus Cathedral. Before his death, he decided to return to Judaism and was buried in a Jewish cemetery, but the gods do not like those who change religion like gloves. Now every night the spirit of the musician leaves his grave in the Jewish cemetery and goes on a boat in the company of a skeleton to play the organ in St. Vitus Cathedral.
There are also legends that at night a fiery chariot drawn by goats drives around the Jewish ghetto. When you meet her, you can stay alive, or you can fall dead, the chances are about 50 to 50.
Did you like the material? Join us on facebook
Yulia Malkova- Yulia Malkova - founder of the website project. In the past, he was the editor-in-chief of the elle.ru Internet project and the editor-in-chief of the cosmo.ru website. I talk about travel for my own pleasure and the pleasure of my readers. If you are a representative of hotels or a tourism office, but we do not know each other, you can contact me by email: [email protected]
There is probably no more mystical and chilling symbol of the Middle Ages in Prague than the astronomical clock. This amazing creation contains the terrible story of its creator, watchmaker Hanush. One day, this talented master proposed to the city authorities the creation of a special clock that could not only decorate the municipal building, but also turn Prague into a unique and beautiful city in Europe. The mayor and the company consulted briefly and gave the go-ahead. The inspired watchmaker, who was also a professor of mathematics and astronomy at the university, immediately got to work. He spent days and nights drawing his monumental creation, and when he realized that the professor should not waste his energy on boring drawing work, he hired an assistant, the young man Jakub Cech.
On the day of the watch's presentation in 1492, a stunned crowd looked at the rare beauty of the clock mechanism, while Hanush, proud and happy, tried to explain to the inhabitants (though without much success) the meaning of this strange “time machine”. One thing was certain among the ignorant townspeople: the exclusivity of Prague and its inevitable recognition as the most glorious city in Europe.
Features of Prague clocks
Three main elements were taken as the basis for the watch: an astronomical disk indicating the time of day, the position of the Sun, Moon and other cosmic details; animated figures including the twelve apostles; circular calendar with medallions representing the 12 months of the year.
The astronomical disk is made in the shape of an astrolabe - the main instrument of medieval astronomy and navigation. It depicts the Earth, the sky and the elements surrounding them: the Zodiac ring, the rotating disk, the Sun and the Moon.
The dark blue circle in the center represents the view of the Earth from space, the light blue one represents the sky above the horizon. During the day, the sun is in the blue part of the dial, and at night it turns into a dark blue zone. The left, eastern, side of the clock symbolizes dawn and sunrise, the western - sunset and twilight. Roman numerals on a blue background indicate the time of day. The time difference between sunrise and sunset is also indicated here, which varies depending on the season.
The inner black circle represents the signs of the Zodiac and the location of the Sun in each of them. All signs are arranged counterclockwise in order, and the North Pole is taken as the reference point - a common occurrence for astronomical clocks of that period. A small golden star indicates the moment when the Sun crosses the celestial equator, and Roman numerals serve to measure sidereal time. There are gold numbers along the outer edge of the watch. They show the time of day of Bohemia (ancient Czech Republic), in which the countdown of the new day began at one in the morning.
The mechanical sun moves in an ellipse around the Zodiac ring. Moreover, it is connected to an arrow, at the end of which there is a golden hand. Together, they show time in different ways: the position of the golden hand above the Roman numerals indicates the local time in Prague; the placement of the sun on curved golden lines shows unequal hours; the golden hand on the outer ring indicates the hours after sunrise, according to Bohemian time. The distance between the sun and the center of the dial shows the time between sunset and sunrise.
The circular calendar indicates the months of the year with 12 medallions and is surrounded by figures of a philosopher, an angel, an astronomer and a historian.
The four figures on either side of the clock embody four allegories: Vanity is represented by a man with a mirror, Greed is represented by a Jewish merchant with a bag, Death is represented by a skeleton killing time, Lust is represented by a Turkish prince playing a mandolin.
Every hour from 9 am to 9 pm the figures begin to move. The vain one looks in the mirror, the greedy one moves his bag, the skeleton shakes his scythe and pulls the rope, the lustful one nods his head in anticipation of new prey. At the same time, the procession of the twelve apostles takes place. They move slowly, taking turns looking out the open windows. The procession is led by the figure of the Apostle San Pedro. When the window sashes close, a rooster crows loudly and flaps its wings, after which the chimes strike...
Tragic ending
Time passed, the passions around the clock subsided, and Master Hanush became bored. His restless soul required creative release, and very soon he again began to sit in the workshop for new drawings. No one really knew about the master’s idea, but evil tongues said that Hanush was inspired by the idea of creating even more spectacular watches for customers from abroad, and for a very substantial fee. Overwhelmed by jealousy, the Prague authorities became worried and decided to “neutralize” the imprudent watchmaker. The mere thought that something greater than the small miracle of Prague could appear in another country made their state blood and minds boil. The decision - cruel and dramatic - was made by them immediately. Taking advantage of the darkness of the night, three people entered Hanush's workshop, where he was still working by candlelight and a lit fireplace. The master, taken by surprise, was mercilessly dragged towards the fire and his eyes were burned out with a hot iron...
Time passed, but the blind watchmaker remained in the dark about who could have committed such cruelty. Hanush's health was deteriorating day by day, and his books, drawings and drawings were covered with dust... Meanwhile, the townspeople, as usual, came to admire his clock on the city hall building.
One day, someone from Hanush’s entourage finally found out the truth and did not hesitate to inform him about it. Stung by such villainy and ingratitude, the master made a sad decision and asked his assistant Yakub to take him to the clock tower. Once there, he gathered his last strength and put his right hand into the clockwork with one goal: to destroy it. At that very moment, Death pulled the rope, the gears made an ominous sound, and everything stopped, including the life of Hanush, who fell dead next to his creation. Since then, local residents have said that a curse will fall on anyone who tries to fix the clock: he will go crazy or die quickly. The legend is a legend, but more than 100 years passed before it was possible to restore the most complex mechanism of the Hanush clock.
Scary superstitions
In Prague they say that stopping the clock is a bad omen for the country. It may just be a coincidence, but in 2002, when the clocks suddenly stopped, the Vltava overflowed its banks and flooded the city, causing severe damage to city buildings and the subway. In 2007, due to high humidity, the clock malfunctioned again, and local residents, in horror, threw all their efforts into fixing the clock mechanism. Of course, these are just superstitions and legends, but in such a magical city as Prague, everything is possible...
Arriving in Zlata Prague, travelers will certainly wander along the well-trodden tourist path. You should definitely walk across the Royal Charles Bridge, decorated with a string of statues of saints, and take a picture of yourself against the backdrop of the Vltava embankment. You definitely need to wait until the famous astronomical clock of the ancient city hall on Old Town Square begins its little show. You can't miss the changing of the guard near the palace where the president's residence is located. And finally, get to one of the ancient breweries for which Bohemia is famous. The high quality of beer is ensured by a long tradition. Since the 14th century, unscrupulous beer producers would sit in the city square wearing a collar and chain and pour their own low-quality drink on any passers-by who wanted to take revenge for the spoiled pleasure. After a day's walk around the city, there is no need to rush back to the hotel or stay too long in one of the many l famous restaurants, because Prague reveals all its mysteries and secrets at midnight.
As soon as dusk falls on the city, and darkness envelops the ancient medieval streets, everything around is transformed. It was this gloomy Prague that inspired Franz Kafka and Gustav Meyrink to create mystical works. Every house, every door, every garden in the old city has its own history. Many of them have become the property of all humanity, and not just lovers of Czech folklore. The story of Doctor Faustus and the legend of Rabbi Loew, the creator of an artificial creature - the Golem, became world famous.
Mystical elements are organically woven into the history of Prague, adding a special flavor. Even the very foundation of the city is shrouded in a very peculiar legend. The prince's daughter Libusha, who lived in the 9th century, possessed an extremely useful skill for rulers - clairvoyance. One day, standing on a hill above the Vlatva River, she felt another surge of “power” and immediately uttered a prophecy that a city would soon be founded, the glory of which would reach the heavens. The foundation site was supposed to be the threshold of a house, which at that moment was being made by some man.
The prince's servants went in search of this place and soon found a simple plowman named Přemysl, who was just making a prag (“threshold” in Czech). Taking him as her husband, the princess founded not only the dynasty of the Přemyslid princes, but also the city of Prague. Who knows whether that prophecy was a revelation or simply the desire of a noble lady to commit an eccentric act by marrying a low-class man, but thanks to this mystical-romantic story, the beautiful city of Prague appeared in the vastness of Bohemia.
But the city became the real capital of mysticism during the time of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II. This very unusual monarch devoted his life not to wars, nor to the discovery of new lands, as was fashionable in his era, but to the search for the philosopher’s stone, capable of turning any metal into gold. Since 1583, when Rudolf moved to the new capital, scientists, alchemists, astrologers, metaphysicians, healers and simply charlatans began to flock to Prague Castle from all over Europe, hoping to gain favor with the emperor.
Rudolf invited some of them personally, sponsoring not only their move to the capital, but also their accommodation. Such scientists as Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler, famous astrologers Edward Kelly and John Dee worked under his patronage. According to legend, Golden Street was precisely the place where scientists, astrologers and alchemists of all stripes worked miracles at night. It’s no wonder that every house was a real alchemical workshop, shrouded in secrets.
However, not only Zlata Street is famous for its creepy stories about the alchemical experiments of medieval scientists. There is a house on one of the corners of Charles Square. Local residents are sure that the notorious doctor and warlock Johann Faust, the prototype of many literary and musical works, lived there for some time. In general, many mysterious personalities lived in this house; it seemed to attract everything strange. There is still a terrible cold in the attic of the damned house, and its gloomy garden is considered the last refuge of Faust’s soul, which never found peace. Studying magical formulas in ancient books, Faust found the opportunity to summon the devil. Having concluded an agreement with him, Faust sold his soul and received in exchange the fulfillment of any desires. When the time came to repay the debt, the warlock begged the devil to wait, but he was inexorable. He grabbed Faust and flew out of the house with him right through the roof, knocking out a hole in the tiles. No matter how the subsequent inhabitants of the house repaired this hole, the next day it opened up again. Today the cursed house houses a hospital. But traces of the presence of Faust and the devil still remain in the upper part of the house: a non-disappearing and irreducible stain marks the place from where the devil flew out with the unfortunate soul of the doctor.
Let's return to Emperor Rudolf. After the mass expulsion of all Jews from Spain and Portugal at the end of the 15th century, they found refuge in the domains of Rudolf, since he was more interested not in astrology or alchemy, not in Western European science, but in the ancient Jewish mystical teaching - Kabbalah. In the quarters of the Jewish ghetto of Prague in the 16th century lived an outstanding expert in Kabbalah - the learned Rabbi Yehuda ben Bnzalel, known as Rabbi Loew. For thirty years he was the head of the Jewish community and rabbi of the Old New Synagogue, the oldest synagogue in Europe. Rumor attributed to him exceptional wisdom and possession of secret knowledge of the formula from the mystical book Zohar (“Radiance”). Containing just over a thousand words, this book contains the secrets of God's name, creation, and the meaning of life. Thanks to knowledge of the formula, Lev was able to create a Golem from clay - a living creature that follows the orders of its creator. A peculiar medieval robot bore the word “truth” on its forehead, bringing it to life. Every Friday, Rabbi Loew “deactivated” the Golem so that it would not accumulate excessive energy and cool down. One day he forgot to do this and the Golem, rebelling, almost destroyed the synagogue and the entire ghetto. Lev had to erase the first letter on the Golem’s forehead, turning it into the word “death.” In an instant, the Golem turned into a pile of clay. The rabbi collected it and placed it in the attic of the Old New Synagogue. He walled up the entrance to the attic. Today the Synagogue is open to the public and it is said that the shadow of the Golem can still be seen looming in the attic at night.
A mystical aura envelops Prague even today. If you dare to go to Visegrad at midnight, you have a chance to see a lot of creepy and mysterious things. Here there are witnesses to meetings with the dead who appear during midnight masses. The sentries of one of the artillery depots located next to the old cemetery abandoned their post more than once, hiding from the black afterlife carriage, driven by a headless coachman and drawn by headless black horses. A black ghostly dog with bloody eyes and a fiery tongue brings particular horror to late pedestrians. If you are lucky enough to survive the encounter with the dog, and you notice the place where he was spinning like a wheel, you have a chance to find the entrance to the cellars of the Visegrad Mountain, where countless treasures are stored.
In one of the city cemeteries there is a grave with the image of the girl Anichka. They say that during the birth of a child, a mistake occurred in the family of a poor musician, and the soul of a restless angel was infused into the newborn girl. So an angel appeared on earth, illuminating everything around with his beautiful soul. Anichka’s life was not easy; she felt in her heart that she had to help everyone - both honest people and criminals. Many often abused her kindness. Finally, God had mercy and took the angel back to heaven - Anichka was playing by the window and, reaching for a toy, fell out of it.
Text: Hanna Rolinska
Prague is the most mystical city in Europe. Medieval legends about powerful magicians, alchemists and monsters have not lost their appeal over time. And even on the contrary, they have acquired an aura of even greater mystery, which excites the imagination and spurs the desire to see unusual places in the Czech capital.
The Wizard Zhito: an evil sorcerer or a clever magician
The era of King Wenceslas IV is reflected in many Czech legends, the heroes of which are characters with outstanding abilities. The wizard named Zhito is a mysterious figure. In the book of the writer Alois Jiraska “Old Czech Legends” there are many stories about his deeds, which cannot be given an unambiguous assessment. An evil sorcerer, a helpful spy for the king, or a clever magician-hypnotist - you can’t tell right away.
Zhito could turn 30 sheaves of grain into grimy piglets and sell them profitably to a greedy baker. I told the buyer “You can’t bathe me,” but he didn’t listen, and as a result, the animals turned into bundles of straw again. The baker found the sorcerer, began to sort things out, grabbed him by the leg and... tore it off. And in order to avoid trial, he gave the victim a huge amount of money. Zhito took it, and the leg immediately grew to his body.
King Wenceslas actively used the services of a wizard. In Prague there is a house “At the Blue Pike”, where, according to legend, both of them visited the tavern. It was important for the ruler to know about the mood of his people, and Zhito helped him in this.
Zhito is not a fictional character. It is known that at the courts of the Czech king Wenceslas IV and the German elector Sigmund of Luxembourg there lived a juggler with that name. The owners valued him so much that they granted him the Przhimdu fortress. For what? For tricks, because Zhito could ridicule any person at court: he turned his hands into hooves, exchanged human legs for horse ones, and grew deer antlers on the heads of unwanted foreigners.
The medieval sorcerer performed his miracles on the eve of the Hussite unrest, which grew as a result of dissatisfaction with the royal reforms. And in the struggle for power, as we know, all means are good.
The legends about Zhito have proven to be very tenacious in the Czech Republic, but they are especially believed in in Prague.
The fate of the giant Golem
The clay giant Golem is the most famous character in Jewish mythology of the early 17th century. According to legend, he was blinded at night and revived with the help of magic by Yehuda Liva ben Bezalel (Rabbi Lev).
The Golem became the legendary protector of the Jewish people. He was a servant of the righteous rabbi: he exposed atrocities, promptly prevented unwanted events, and carried out various difficult assignments that were of particular importance to the Jewish community. Having completed the task, the clay idol turned to dust. But with the help of secret knowledge, he was revived to a new life every 33 years. Problems arose when he began to commit acts exceeding his authority. The monster's unpredictable behavior began to create serious problems, and its creator Rabbi Lev one day simply “turned off” the Golem.
Has the monster disappeared forever? No one knows about this for sure. Journalist Egon Erwin Kisch searched for his traces for a long time, but the search was unsuccessful.
In modern Prague there are excursions to mystical places, and in different parts of the historical part of the capital there are traces of the legendary creature. The stories about the Golem sound quite plausible, because in the city of magicians, sorcerers and chemists, nothing has happened since the Middle Ages.
The creator of the monster is buried in the Old Jewish Cemetery, and it is quite possible that the ashes of his clay brainchild are also nearby. According to one version, the remains of the monster can be found in the attic of the Old New Synagogue. According to another, the Golem was buried in the Zizkov area, on the gallows hill.
On Marian Square near the new town hall there is a statue of Yehuda ben Bezalel, and the familiar outline of the Golem can be seen much more often.
A figurine of a clay giant can be found in souvenir markets, on signs and even on paving stones. They make good money from this image; in particular, the Prague restaurant “U Golem” is very popular.
The image of a mysterious monster is widely used by writers, poets and filmmakers. In particular, the Golem was depicted in the works of Thomas Mann, Meyrink, Stanislav Lem, Borges, and Umberto Eco. This mystical character, which has become a kind of symbol of medieval Prague, is found in films directed by Quentin Tarantino, Julien Duvivier and others.
House of Faust - abode of scientists and charlatans
On Charles Square in Prague there is the famous House of Faust - the abode of alchemists, physicists, charlatans and spies who lived here in different periods. The building received such a loud name in their honor, although the warlock doctor, glorified by Goethe, had never been here.
At the end of the 16th century. The history of the house began with the alchemist Edward Kelly, who lived in the era of Emperor Rudolph II. He equipped a laboratory here for extracting gold from tin. The alchemist was a duelist, and a year later he was arrested for violating the imperial decree on duels, and was hidden in a fortress, where he died tragically.
The new owner of the building was Count Ferdinand Mladota. Using instruments that operated on the principles of electricity, optics and magnetism, he and his sons created outlandish mechanisms and thereby gained a reputation as an accomplice of the devil. The count's experiments often ended in fires; his scientific research thrilled the medieval public and created the ground for new legends. In memory of this owner, the House of Faust began to be called the Mladotov Palace.
The following residents also performed chemical and physical experiments, and some had eccentric, from the point of view of people of that time, oddities. A certain resident frightened passers-by with the eerie sounds that the mechanical figures he made made. Karl Jenig collected attributes of death, spent the night in a coffin, and hung funeral texts on the walls. The sons of Jan Krucinek, who was engaged in astrology, killed each other after finding treasure in the building...
According to legends, the House of Faust is connected to the town hall by an underground passage.
A mysterious hole in the roof of the building excites the imagination, through which, according to legend, the devil carried away the inhabitants of the house who had a deal with the devil. Subsequently, the building housed a shelter for the deaf and mute and a city public hospital. But the mysticism continued: the hole was walled up, and the next morning the masonry fell off. Once the hole was reliably cemented, but there was a war and a bomb fell on the roof of the house, which did not explode, but only punched a hole in the same place.
Today, the restored Baroque building is under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Health and cannot be entered. But you can admire the House of Faust from the street, contemplating its mystical history.
Bank of the Czechoslovak Legion
The history of the creation of the Legionnaires' Bank in Prague is shrouded in mystery. It is known that a financial institution suddenly appeared on the financial market in the early 20s of the last century. The magnificent building in the Rondo-Cubist style was designed by the architect Josef Gočár and built in 1921-1923. However, it remains a mystery how the newly-minted bank so quickly became one of the institutions with decent capital.
Among the most common versions is the story that at the beginning of 1914, the gold of the Russian Empire ended up in the hands of Czech legionnaires, thanks to which the bank appeared. The legionnaires were publicly accused of this in 1925 in the Czech Parliament by a deputy from the German National Party. Of theft of royal gold Members of the Russian security guard were also accused.
The gold reserves (1,143 boxes and 1,678 bags) were transported in a medical train, in a carriage with mentally ill people. The investigation into the thefts was not completed; the surviving documents say that the Czechoslovak legionnaires handed over the entire contents of the cars to the Russian side, “the seals were checked,” and it was concluded that everything was “in order.”
The mystery of the mysterious disappearance of Russian gold is still unsolved. You can’t help but remember this when you see the original building of the Legionnaires’ Bank. The unique style of Czech Cubism delights some people and repulses others.
The facade of Legion Bank is painted in national colors - red and white. The two lower floors with columns and high reliefs are dedicated to the theme of Czech legionnaires.
The building has no flat windows; the design uses elements in the form of cylinders, circles and segments of different sizes. The huge operating room with a glass ceiling resembles a peacock's tail.
When this building appeared, adherents of traditional styles in architecture called the building “the chaos of time.” However, over time, the style of Czech Cubism was recognized as unique and unparalleled in the world.
And the story of the sudden appearance of Legion Bank remains one of the most mysterious.
