Zarok's astronomical clock: Difference between revisions

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    {{Infobox
    {{Floatright|
    {{Generic infobox
    |float = none
    |image = MediEvil1998-TheEntranceHall-LoadingScreen.png
    |image = MediEvil1998-TheEntranceHall-LoadingScreen.png
    |caption = The astrolabe in Zarok's planetarium.
    |caption = The clock in Zarok's planetarium.
    |{{Infobox entry|Type|Astronomical instrument}}
    |type = Astronomical instrument
    |{{Infobox entry|Appears in|{{Appearances
    |appearances = {{Appearances
    |medievil1998=
    |medievil1998=
    *[[TitleAV]]
    *[[TitleAV]]
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    *[[IntroAV]]
    *[[IntroAV]]
    *[[The Entrance Hall]]
    *[[The Entrance Hall]]
    }}
    }}}}}}
    }}
    '''Zarok's astronomical clock''' was a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information, such as the relative positions of the [[sun]], [[moon]], [[zodiac|zodiacal constellations]], and [[planets]].
    }}
    {{Wikipedia}}
    An '''astrolabe''' was an astronomical instrument dating to ancient times. It served as a star chart, and its various functions also made it an analog calculation device capable of working out several kinds of problems in astronomy. It was able to measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body, day or night; it could be used to identify [[stars]] or [[planets]], to determine local latitude given local time (and vice versa), to survey, or to triangulate.
    ==History==
    ==History==
    ===14th century===
    ===14th century===
    There was a giant self-operating astrolabe on the floor of the planetarium in [[Zarok the Sorcerer]]'s [[The Entrance Hall|castle]].{{Gameref|MED}}{{Note|name=ingame|The in-game version of the planetarium only has the latitude plate of the astrolabe.}}
    The clock was on the floor of the planetarium in [[Zarok the Sorcerer]]'s [[The Entrance Hall|castle]].{{Gameref|MED}}{{Note|name=ingame|The in-game version of the clock only has the clock dial; it does not feature the zodiacal ring or the clock hands. The in-game dial is also upside down relative to the cutscene version. The rotation of the dial was made consistent in the 2019 remake.}} It was likely destroyed after the explosion of [[Zarok's Lair]].{{Gameref|MED}}
     
    ==Construction==
    ==Construction==
    ===Mater===
    ===Dial===
    The mater was the main body of the astrolabe. The edge of the mater was called the limb, on which the degree scale and scale of hours were engraved. The hollowed-out part of the mater was called the womb and contained a latitude plate.<ref name="astrolabeparts">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/astronomy/medieval-astrolabe/parts-astrolabe|site=Whipple Museum|title=The Parts of an Astrolabe|retrieved=February 5, 2025}}</ref>
    [[File:MediEvil1998-AstrolabePlateTexture.png|The clock dial.|thumb|left]]
    ===Latitude plate===
    ====Rim====
    [[File:MediEvil1998-AstrolabePlateTexture.png|left|thumb|The plate of Zarok's astrolabe.]]
    The rim of the dial was divided into 24 [[wikipedia:hour|equal hours]] of time denoted by medieval versions of [[wikipedia:Arabic numerals|Arabic numerals]].<ref name="components">{{Cite web|url=https://catalogue.museogalileo.it/indepth/AstrolabeComponents.html|site=Museo Galileo|title=In depth - Astrolabe components|retrieved=February 6, 2025}}</ref>
    To an observer on the [[earth]] it appeared that the planet was at the centre of an immense sphere with the stars and other heavenly bodies located on its inside surface. Called the celestial sphere, it appeared to rotate around the earth.<ref name="astrolabeparts"/>


    The celestial sphere was mapped on the plate of an astrolabe using a mathematical technique called stereographic projection. This technique allowed the 3-dimensional sphere to be represented on the 2-dimensional flat plate. Each latitude needed its own projection, and so most astrolabes came with a variety of plates for particular latitudes, usually stacked one on top of the other, within the astrolabe.<ref name="astrolabeparts"/> It is unknown whether Zarok's astrolabe had multiple plates.
    ====Tropics and the equator====
    The circle on the outwards perimeter of the dial was the [[wikipedia:Tropic of Cancer|Tropic of Cancer]], while the [[wikipedia:Tropic of Capricorn|Tropic of Capricorn]] was represented by the innermost circle. Between them was another circle that represented the [[wikipedia:equator|equator]].<ref name="components"/>
    ====Unequal hour lines====
    The unequal hour lines were used for determining the [[wikipedia:unequal hours|unequal hours]] of day or night respectively, from the sun's position on the ecliptic.<ref name="components"/>{{Note|name=unequalhours|The unequal hour lines should typically define 12 sectors. However, there are 16 sectors on Zarok's clock.}}
    {{clrl}}
    {{clrl}}
    ===Ecliptic ring===
     
    The ecliptic ring was the annual path of the [[sun]] through the sky, as seen from the earth. A belt extending around 6 degrees north and south of the ecliptic is called the [[zodiac]]. Within this belt the apparent motions of the sun and planets take place.<ref name="astrolabeparts"/>
    ===Zodiacal ring===
    ===Rule===
    [[File:MediEvil2019-Astrolabe.png|The zodiacal ring on the clock.|thumb|right]]
    The rule was a bar which rotated across the front of the astrolabe. It was used to locate positions on the plate, and to relate them to the scale of hours marked on the limb.<ref name="astrolabeparts"/>
    The zodiacal ring, or the ecliptic ring, showed the annual path of the sun through the sky, as seen from the earth. A belt extending around 6 degrees north and south of the ecliptic was called the zodiac. The apparent motions of the sun and planets took place within the belt. The zodiac was divided into 30-degree intervals giving us the 12 months of the zodiacal calendar.<ref name="astrolabeparts">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/astronomy/medieval-astrolabe/parts-astrolabe|site=Whipple Museum|title=The Parts of an Astrolabe|retrieved=February 5, 2025}}</ref>
    ===Hands===
    As with a standard clock, the hands showed the current time.
     
    ==Behind the scenes==
    ===Design===
    The cutscene version of Zarok's astronomical clock was created by [[Jason Riley]]. Its design is based on the [[wikipedia:Prague astronomical clock|Prague Orloj]], one of the most famous medieval astronomical clocks in the world.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/groups/197220967019502/posts/28280209904960565?comment_id=28297633469884875|site=Facebook|title=Comments in the MediEvil Madness private group|author=[[Daniel Hotop|Hotop, Daniel]]|quote=I confirmed [the inspiration] wiht{{sic}} the Aritist,{{sic}} he said "guilty as charged"|published=February 9, 2025|retrieved=February 9, 2025}}</ref>
    {{Comparison
    |leftname=Zarok's astronomical clock
    |rightname = Prague Orloj
    |left=[[File:MediEvil1998-TITLEAV-Frame258.png|250px]]
    |right=[[File:PragueOrlojComparison.png|250px]]
    }}
    {{Comparison
    |leftname=Zarok's astronomical clock
    |rightname = Prague Orloj
    |left=[[File:MediEvil1998-TITLEAV-Frame312.png|250px]]
    |right=[[File:PragueOrlojComparison2.png|250px]]
    }}
     
    ==Gallery==
    ==Gallery==
    <gallery>
    <gallery>
    MediEvil2019-Astrolabe.png|The astrolabe in the 2019 remake.
    File:MediEvil-TitleAV-Render.png|Render by [[Jason Riley]].
    </gallery>
    </gallery>
    ==Notes==
    ==Notes==
    {{Notelist}}
    {{Notelist}}
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    ==Navigation==
    ==Navigation==
    {{Astronomy}}
    {{Astronomy}}
    [[Category:Space]]
    [[Category:Astronomy]]
    [[Category:Astronomy]]

    Latest revision as of 22:18, 11 February 2025

    Zarok's astronomical clock
    MediEvil1998-TheEntranceHall-LoadingScreen.png
    The clock in Zarok's planetarium.
    General information
    Type Astronomical instrument
    Behind the scenes information
    Appears in

    Zarok's astronomical clock was a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information, such as the relative positions of the sun, moon, zodiacal constellations, and planets.

    History

    14th century

    The clock was on the floor of the planetarium in Zarok the Sorcerer's castle.[1][a] It was likely destroyed after the explosion of Zarok's Lair.[1]

    Construction

    Dial

    The clock dial.

    Rim

    The rim of the dial was divided into 24 equal hours of time denoted by medieval versions of Arabic numerals.[2]

    Tropics and the equator

    The circle on the outwards perimeter of the dial was the Tropic of Cancer, while the Tropic of Capricorn was represented by the innermost circle. Between them was another circle that represented the equator.[2]

    Unequal hour lines

    The unequal hour lines were used for determining the unequal hours of day or night respectively, from the sun's position on the ecliptic.[2][b]

    Zodiacal ring

    The zodiacal ring on the clock.

    The zodiacal ring, or the ecliptic ring, showed the annual path of the sun through the sky, as seen from the earth. A belt extending around 6 degrees north and south of the ecliptic was called the zodiac. The apparent motions of the sun and planets took place within the belt. The zodiac was divided into 30-degree intervals giving us the 12 months of the zodiacal calendar.[3]

    Hands

    As with a standard clock, the hands showed the current time.

    Behind the scenes

    Design

    The cutscene version of Zarok's astronomical clock was created by Jason Riley. Its design is based on the Prague Orloj, one of the most famous medieval astronomical clocks in the world.[4]

    Zarok's astronomical clock Prague Orloj
    MediEvil1998-TITLEAV-Frame258.png PragueOrlojComparison.png
    Zarok's astronomical clock Prague Orloj
    MediEvil1998-TITLEAV-Frame312.png PragueOrlojComparison2.png

    Gallery

    Notes

    1. The in-game version of the clock only has the clock dial; it does not feature the zodiacal ring or the clock hands. The in-game dial is also upside down relative to the cutscene version. The rotation of the dial was made consistent in the 2019 remake.
    2. The unequal hour lines should typically define 12 sectors. However, there are 16 sectors on Zarok's clock.

    References

    1. 1.0 1.1 MediEvil MediEvil. Developed by SCEE Cambridge Studio. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment on October 9, 1998.
    2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 In depth - Astrolabe components on Museo Galileo. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
    3. The Parts of an Astrolabe on Whipple Museum. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
    4. "I confirmed [the inspiration] wiht[sic] the Aritist,[sic] he said "guilty as charged""Hotop, Daniel, Comments in the MediEvil Madness private group on Facebook. Published February 9, 2025. Retrieved February 9, 2025.

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