The Comayagua cathedral clock, also known as the Arabic clock or the Comayagua clock, is a gear clock dated from the medieval times located in the city of Comayagua, in the Republic of Honduras. It is considered the oldest clock in the Americas and the oldest gear clock in the world still in operation since it has been working presumably for more than 900 years. [1] [2]
The gears were presumably made and assembled by the Spanish moors in Al-Andalus during the Almoravid Empire period around the year 1100 during the reign of Yusuf ibn Tashfin.[ citation needed ] Before being transferred to the Americas, according to the chronicles before it landed to American soil it was working on the Arab palace of the Alhambra in Granada, Spain. After the end of the Reconquista and the expulsion of the muslims and Jews from Castille the palace was occupied by the kings of Spain since Charles V. during the 17th century by order of King Felipe III of Spain, it was transferred to Las Hibueras region (present-day Honduras) of New Spain, where it would function as the city clock.
Initially it functioned in the Church of La Merced, which was at that time the cathedral of the city, being installed in 1636. However, by 1711 it was relocated to the recently completed Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, which at that time was the largest building in the city and one of the largest cathedrals in Central america during the viceroyalty of New Spain, being installed in the bell tower of the temple. [3] [4]
During 2007 it was subjected to a restoration process by the Municipal Mayor's Office, the National Congress of Honduras, the Comayagüense Cultural Committee and the supervision of the Honduran Institute of Anthropology and History, for which the master watchmaker Rodolfo Antonio Cerón Martínez from Guatemala was located , who after five months of hard work concluded his work on December 20, 2007. [5]
The mechanism based on gears, ropes, weights and a pendulum, the whole set shows the time on the face located on the facade of the church where the number 4 is written in an old version of Roman numerals, showing as IIII instead of IV as most of us know it.
For a time it was believed that the oldest gear clock was the one in Salisbury Cathedral in England, since it was made in 1386. However, when the material with which it was made was studied, it was identified that it was built with iron with a much older technique than the Salisbury one was made with, therefore several different historians and researchers assume that this is the oldest working gear clock in the world. [6]
However, the debate about its antiquity is still current, as some historians have said that the clock cannot be of the age attributed to it since there are no specific historical records that confirm that at the end of the 11th century and the beginning of the 12th century Mechanisms to measure time based on gears were common, since most clocks of the time were made of sand or water. Therefore these historians give the real date of construction around the year 1374.
However, those who support the theory that it actually belongs to the 11th century mention the study that was carried out by researchers where it was discovered that the way it was made was based on the wrought iron technique, a much older technique than that with which the Salisbury clock was made, in addition to finding some inscriptions on one of the gears that say "Espana 1100" which gives greater support to the possibility that it is from the period that is assigned.
Comayagua is a city, municipality and old capital of Honduras, located 80 km (50 mi) northwest of Tegucigalpa on the highway to San Pedro Sula and 594 m (1,949 ft) above sea level.
Comayagua Fútbol Club was a Honduran football club, based in Comayagua, Honduras.
The Salisbury Cathedral clock is a large iron-framed tower clock without a dial, in Salisbury Cathedral, England. Thought to date from about 1386, it is a well-preserved example of the earliest type of mechanical clock, called verge and foliot clocks, and is said to be the oldest working clock in the world, although similar claims are made for other clocks. Previously in a bell-tower which was demolished in 1790, the clock was restored to working condition in 1956 and is on display in the North nave aisle of the cathedral, close to the West front.
Hondurans are the citizens of Honduras. Most Hondurans live in Honduras, although there is also a significant Honduran diaspora, particularly in the United States, Spain, and many smaller communities in other countries around the world.
Tegucigalpa —formally Tegucigalpa, Municipality of the Central District, and colloquially referred to as Tegus or Teguz—is the capital and largest city of Honduras along with its sister city, Comayagüela.
Parrillas One is a Honduran football team based in San Pedro Sula, Cortés.
Club Atlético Pinares was a Honduran association football club, based in Nueva Ocotepeque in the department of Ocotepeque.
TUVISA is the municipal company responsible for urban transport in the city of Vitoria-Gasteiz, in the north of Spain. As of March 2022, the company operates 97 buses.
Avenida Bucareli, often referred to as "Bucareli Street", is a main avenue and eje vial in Mexico City. It divides the Historic center on the east from Colonia Juárez on the west. It is named after the viceroy of New Spain, Antonio María de Bucareli y Ursúa, who commissioned it. Built in the late 18th century and called Paseo Nuevo, it was once a wide boulevard lined with more than 1000 ash trees. In the 19th century the walking paths on either side were built upon and the avenue acquired its current width. It originally had three plazas, each with a fountain. Only one fountain survives, though it was moved to Plaza Loreto.
The St. Michael the Archangel Cathedral is a Catholic temple in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It is well known for being the biggest Catholic church during colonial times and one of the most well preserved historical buildings in Honduras.
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral also called Comayagua Cathedral It is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and is located in the Central Square of the city of Comayagua in Honduras, it is one of the oldest cathedrals in Central America, it went through construction phases that date from the 16th century until it was completed inaugurated on December 8, 1711, and blessed in 1715, and many modifications since the 18th century.
Honduras has a large Spanish community, distributed throughout the country. According to the National Institute of Statistics of Spain, 2,888 Spanish citizens live in Honduras as of 2017.
The Immaculate Conception Cathedral is a Catholic Church located in the city of Juticalpa, in the department of Olancho, part of the Central American country of Honduras. It is one of the four cathedrals dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of St. Mary in Honduran territory, the others being Choluteca, Comayagua and Danlí.
The UCV Clock Tower, also known by its Spanish name Torre del Reloj de la UCV, or Reloj de la UCV, is a monument made of prestressed concrete. It is by the Rectory Plaza of the Central University of Venezuela in the University City of Caracas, and was built between 1953 and 1954.
"Reloj" (transl. "Clock") is a song recorded by Puerto Rican singer Rauw Alejandro and Puerto Rican rapper Anuel AA for Alejandro's debut studio album, Afrodisíaco (2020). It was written by Alejandro, Yampi, Luis Guillermo Marval Camerom, Nesty, Anuel AA, Caleb Calloway, Kenobi, Colla, and Eric Duars, while the production was handled by Calloway and Nesty. The song was released for digital download and streaming by Sony Music Latin and Duars Entertainment on October 22, 2020, as the fourth single from the album. A Spanish language melodic reggaeton song with urban rhythms, it is about the sexual desire the singers feel towards a girl, describing everything they would do to her if the clock had more hours.
The Merced church also known as "Iglesia de la Merced" is a Catholic church in Comayagua, Honduras built in 1550 during the colonial era of New Spain. It is the oldest church in Honduras, being built in 1550 by Fray Gaspar de Quintanilla with the name of Iglesia de la Inmaculada Concepción. It was also the first Honduran church to receive the cathedral designation in 1561 meaning that is the oldest church still in foot in Honduras, although it now functions as a parish. The church is dedicated to the Virgen de la Merced and is located in the historic colonial quarter of Comayagua.
Ana Mateo Arbizú y Flores, also known as Ana Arbizú de Guardiola, was a Honduran poet, considered the first in her country.
Comayagua International Airport, also known as Palmerola International Airport, is an international airport located 6 km (4 mi) south of the centre of Comayagua, Honduras. The airport was inaugurated in October 2021 as the country's new international airport for civil and commercial use. It was built at the facilities of the Soto Cano Air Base.
The Pontevedra Provincial Hospital is a building dating from 1897, located in the city centre of Pontevedra, Spain.
{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)