St Marks Astronomical Clock.

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If any of you have seen the film Moonraker when James Bond throws a baddie through the decorative glass clock then you will have seen this clock yourself The first clock was built in the 1400's and updated several times over the centuries. The most recent restoration was in 1996 which has caused much controversy in as much as they did not use traditional methods in replacing parts of the clock when ancient monuments are restored they should be restored using traditional skills and workmanship. Also they had changed some of the fundamental features of the clock which is not really appropriate when repairing something of such historical value. The outer ring consists of Roman Numerals 1-24 denoting the hours of the day. The inner ring the 12 signs of the Zodiac covered in gold leaf. The arm of the clock consists of the long arm with the sun emblem on it also in gold leaf. There is a moon on the inner circle depicting the moon phases. Above the clock at the top of tower there is a bell that is stuck by two brass figures that have turned black due to the moisture around Venice . Just below that the winged statue of a lion the Emblem of St. Mark holding a bible and just below that there are two little doors from which the Magi preceded by a trumpeting angel pay homage to the Blessed Virgin Mary and the baby Jesus. They are not the original figures but replacements. I love to look at these marvelous Astronomical clocks the more famous of these clocks being in Strasbourg and Prague.