The mechanism was designed by Frédéric Klinghammer, with the artistic design based on plans by Théodore Ungerer. Parts of the design are similar to theStrasbourg astronomical clock. The idea was to restore the ancient astronomical clock of the old medieval bell tower of the cathedral of Messina, destroyed in previous eras. It was commissioned by theArchbishop of Messina Angelo Paino to mark the reconstruction of the campanile after the1908 Messina earthquake, perhaps on inspiration ofPope Pius XI, who gave him a functioning model of the Strasbourg clock.[1]
The clock's displays appear in several different levels of the campanile, on the sides facing the square and the cathedral.
The carousel of the ages of life. Four statues represent the ages of man: a child, a young man, a warrior, and an old man. Each succeeds the last every quarter hour, passing in front of the skeletal figure ofDeath, who waves a scythe.[3]
TheSanctuary of the Madonna at Montalto. Representing the sanctuary's foundation in the 13th century, a dove flies in a circle and the sanctuary rises from the ground at midday.[4]
Biblical scenes. A different biblical scene appears in each quarter of the liturgical year:[5]
Pentecost toChristmas: theDescent of the Holy Spirit. The twelve apostles surround the Virgin Mary. A dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, flies over the apostles; flames appears on their heads, while they raise their arms.
The Madonna of the Letter, patron saint of Messina. According to legend, Messina's ambassadors were sent to Jerusalem to pay their respects to the Virgin Mary, and received a letter from her, granting the city her benediction. At midday, an angel hands the letter to the Madonna.St. Paul and the ambassadors pass in front of the Madonna and bow their heads.[6]
Dina and Clarenza. According to legend, Dina repelled an attack on Messina by rolling rocks while Clarenza rang the bells of the campanile to alert the city, during theSicilian Vespers in 1282. They ring the quarter hour bells. Between them, at midday, the rooster flaps its wings, raises its head and crows three times.[7]
At the top, the crowned lion (symbol of the Province of Messina) carries the flag of Messina. At midday, it waves the flag, moves its tail, turns its head and roars three times.[8]
The side of the campanile facing the cathedral has two dials, plus the moon phase:
The lower dial is theperpetual calendar. The outer ring rotates annually to indicate the day and month. Moving panels on the ring indicatemoveable feasts. A marble angel points an arrow to indicate the day.[9] The year is shown numerically in an aperture.
The upper dial is the planetarium. It shows the orbit of the nine planets of theSolar System around the Sun, at the dial's centre, moving through the signs of theZodiac. The planets are positioned proportionally to their true distance from the Sun.[10]
Diagram of the tower from the original designs by the Ungerer Company.
Above the dials, the Moon is represented by a half-gold, half-black rotating sphere, 1.2m in diameter, which indicates thelunar phase.[11]
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