In 1604 the tower was equipped with a wooden horologe which
was remade in 1648 by Johann Kirschel. He equipped the clock with two big dials (one on each
facade of the tower) and with two groups of wooden figurines arranged in niches. The figurines
are moved by the clock's mechanism. On the citadel side we see the Goddesses of Peace holding an
olive branch, accompanied by a drummer who is beating the hours in his bronze drum; above them are
the Goddess of Fairness holding a balance and the Goddess of Justice with a spade accompanied by
two angels representing Day and Night. Some sources say that the Justice and Fairness symbolize
the fact that the town had judicial autonomy and the right to dictate capital punishment. At 6 AM the
angel symbolizing the day comes out, marking the begining of the working day and at 6 PM the angel
symbolizing the night comes out carrying two burning candles in his hands and marking the end of the
working day and the arrival of the evening.
Looking over downtown there is a second niche holding a figurine which some say represents the
executioner and a second drummer. Above them there are seven figurines representing the pagan gods
who personified the days of the week: Diane, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Saturn and the Sun.
These figurines are sitting on a wheel and they move at midnight marking the change of the day. Like the
tower's turrets, the figurines indicate the fact that at the time the horologe was installed the rustic
Baroque style was the fashion in Transylvania. The clock still works, complete with the rotating painted
wooden figures, one for each day of the week. The present mechanism of the clock is newer, dating from 1906.
The clock was modernized with an electric engine in 1964. The niche with figurines representing the days
is visible from inside the Clock Tower. We visited Sighisoara on a Thursday and the picture that we took
shows Venus and Saturn showing the days that followed.
