The tombstone of Tycho Brahe in the Church of Our Lady before Týn is shrouded in mystery and magic. According to an old legend, it has a special power. It is said that whoever strokes the face of this famous scholar carved on the stone will be relieved of tooth pain. You might remember this legend in case you ever find yourself in need – you never know when it might come in handy.
Tycho Brahe (1546–1601) was a Danish nobleman and one of the most significant astronomers of the pre-Copernican era. He was born in Denmark and studied law and astronomy at the University of Leiden. Brahe became famous for his extraordinarily precise and complex astronomical and planetary observations, which he made without a telescope, as he lived before its invention.
His major contribution was the extensive and precise measurement of the positions of planets, which later enabled Johannes Kepler to formulate his famous laws of planetary motion. Brahe also created his own model of the universe, which was a combination of the geocentric system of Ptolemy and the heliocentric system of Copernicus.
Tycho Brahe died in Prague in 1601 and was buried in the Church of Our Lady before Týn. Over time, his tomb became the subject of many legends and myths. Whether the legend about miraculous tooth pain relief from touching his tombstone truly works, you can find out for yourself.
However, I must personally admit that when my teeth started to hurt, rather than going to his tombstone, I always preferred visiting the dentist. Nevertheless, if you decide to visit this monument, you may also recall other legends tied to this significant figure. Who knows, maybe it will brighten not only your mind but also your smile.
The Golden Nose: Tycho Brahe allegedly lost part of his nose during a duel, which was not unusual among nobles of that time. According to legend, after this incident, he had a replacement nose made of metal. Although it is said that this artificial nose was made of gold, it was probably an alloy of copper and tin. Tycho wore this replacement nose not only at social events but also during his astronomical observations, further cementing his iconic status of the time.
Pet Deer as a Pet: Tycho Brahe was known for his eccentric nature, and his life was filled with unusual experiences. According to some stories, he kept a deer as a pet, which was not typical for nobles at the time. This deer became an integral part of his household and was often present at social events Brahe hosted. One legend even tells that this deer tragically fell down the stairs during a banquet and died as a result. This story further enhances the image of Tycho Brahe as an eccentric and fascinating scientist whose lifestyle was as remarkable as his scientific work.
Mysterious Death: Tycho Brahe died suddenly in 1601, sparking many speculations and conspiracy theories. For a long time, it was believed that the cause of his death was a bladder inflammation, allegedly developed after Tycho refused to leave a banquet, despite needing to use the bathroom. This version of the story became part of the legend surrounding his death. However, later forensic analyses of his remains revealed high levels of mercury, leading to the theory that he may have been poisoned. These new findings sparked further speculation, particularly about the possibility that Brahe was murdered. Possible perpetrators mentioned include his assistant Johannes Kepler, who may have had a motive to gain access to Brahe’s astronomical data, as well as members of the Danish royal court, with whom Brahe had complicated relationships. Although evidence of murder was never confirmed, this theory adds another layer of mystery to the life and death of this extraordinary scientist, whose work had a profound influence on the development of modern astronomy.
Astronomical Beliefs:
Although Tycho Brahe was an outstanding astronomer, he never fully accepted the heliocentric model of the universe proposed by Nicolaus Copernicus. Instead, he developed his own geoheliocentric system, also known as the Tychonic system. In this model, the Earth remains stationary at the center of the universe, around which the Sun and the Moon orbit, while the other planets orbit the Sun.
This hybrid model was a compromise between the traditional geocentric view of the universe and the newer heliocentric theories. Brahe’s system tried to preserve Ptolemy’s idea of the Earth as the center of the universe while accepting some of Copernicus’s ideas about planetary motion. This model was quite popular in its time, especially among those who had difficulty fully accepting heliocentrism but also recognized the need for more accurate astronomical models.
Brahe’s precise and detailed astronomical observations were key to the further development of astronomy, even though his own theory was eventually superseded by Copernicus’s heliocentric model, which was later confirmed through the work of Johannes Kepler and other astronomers.