Sundial

Technique: the dial is made of  sandstone, the gnomon of stainless steel, and the coats of arms from resin resembling sandstone

Object: The device was created as a tribute to the Gdańsk astronomer Johannes Hevelius. On the dial is a gilded inscription reading: “To the great astronomer Johannes Hevelius, citizens of Gdańsk”. There are also other inscriptions on the dial, this time in Latin: creation date, longitude, latitude and the name of the constellation discovered by Hevelius (the astronomer was a friend of King John III Sobieski and called it Scutum Sobiescianum, Sobieski’s Shield).

Information about the sundial’s working principle and detailed instructions for its operation are placed on the interactive screen of Hevelius Fountain, which also contains interesting facts about the astronomer and an educational application inspired by Hevelius’s work. In 2007, the sundial was vandalized (the gnomon and several metal elements of the dial were stolen, including the Gdańsk coat of arms and the round coat of arms of the Hevelke family). The sundial was reconstructed and again placed in public space in 2015.

Place: Square dedicated to Johannes Hevelius (Skwer Heweliusza), Korzenna Street, opposite the Old Town Hall (Ratusz Staromiejski). Heweliusza Square was created as an homage to the great astronomer. It is located between Korzenna, Bednarska and Rajska streets as well as the Radunia Channel flowing underneath Gdańsk mills. Korzenna and Rajska are joined by an avenue running along the Old Town Hall (Ratusz Staromiejski), the statue of Hevelius and, closer to Rajska, at the level of the Great Mill – the sundial.

Information about the author/authors:

Hanna Klementowska is a graduate of the Gdańsk University of Technology (PhD, Arch.Eng.) and the Warsaw University of Life Sciences (landscape architect). She works as a design specialist in the urban space development department of the Gdańsk Road and Greenery Authority.

Grzegorz Szychliński (b. 12 March 1955 in Gdańsk) is an engineer, mechanic and museologist. Between 1996 and 2021, he was the curator and head of the Turret Clock Museum (department of the Museum of Gdańsk, now the Museum of Gdańsk Science). He was also the founder and winner of the World Carillon Federation competition.

Condition of the object: good

Owner/guardian: Gdańsk Water and Sewage Infrastructure

Author of the entry: inventory made by the Gdańsk University of Technology team, description of the place: Jacek Dominiczak, additional information: Małgorzata Paszylka-Glaza