Book Review,  by Joseph Caezza

PRAGA MYSTERIOSA: The Secret of the Prague Solstice, Milan Spurek, 1996, Eminent,P.O. Box 298 Praha 1,111 21 Czech Republic, hc, trilingual: Czech, English, German, Kc 299, $11.10.

     Milan Spurek made a major contribution to the Opus Magnum catalogue recently reviewed in the Stone (No.28). Opus Magnum chronicles Bohemian alchemy with the sophistication of Stanislaus Klossowski de Rola's Golden Game or Alexander Roob's Hermetic Museum. The present volume, Praga Mysteriosa , blows the lid off the ancient inner urban structure that imbues the "Golden City" with intense enchantment.

     Most of the buildings that constitute key points in the ground plan's sacred geometry survive from Romanesque times. Final strategic structures were placed during the reign of Charles IV (1316-1378). Seven churches rank foremost among these landmarks in their capacity to figure four
triangles that identify the four elements. Other intentionally placed churches delineate a trinity of crosses, the most significant of which traces the solstice. The axil of these crosses occurs at the Rotunda of the Holy Rood (cross) dating from the beginning of the twelfth century. Twelve lines formed by these crosses define twelve zodiac districts. These zones reflect their astrological signatures. For example three ancient churches dedicated to St Clement, whose symbolic animal is the ram, can be found in the zone of Aries.

     This book presents itself as perhaps the finest esoteric atlas of Prague. An entire chapter dedicated to the Old Town Bridge Tower that leads to Charles Bridge reveals a textbook of medieval astrology written in stone. The elements, planets, zodiac signs, lunar houses, aspects,
planetary hours and even the lunar nodes are coded into its design. At the summer solstice the sun observed from the gate of the Old Town Bridge Tower sets upon the hill top castle horizon above St. Vitus cathedral at precisely the place under which the relics of St Vitus are interred.

     Recent Stone interviews with two prominent Bohemian Hermeticists (See: issues No. 27 & 28) explored the postulation that the "Royal Route", the coronation path leading from the Powder Tower to Prague Castle and St. Vitus Cathedral constitutes a manual of alchemy written in the houses,
streets and monuments. This book lends immense support to the thesis by demonstrating the awesome mystic structure of this city. Charles IV's passionate quest for numinous relics to implant as radioactive seeds in the many churches he built was augmented by thoughtful harmonic placement of these edifices. This sacred ambiance found further fortification by the powerful resonance of enchantment derived from rituals celebrated at these pivotal locations.

     This oversized book printed on high gloss paper with sewn signatures features impeccable photography accompanied by erudite text. It epitomizes the highest standards of European quality. The reverse side of the dust jacket contains a map of Prague suitable for framing. This volume remains required reading for anyone determined to decipher the archetypal process encoded in the city that embodies the heart of alchemy's silicone valley.

Grateful thanks are due to Michael Pober who first called this book to my attention and thanks also to William Hollister who presented me with a gift copy of this volume.

Return to Alchemical Dialectics