Jon Searles' photos with the keyword: Basilica

Bazilika Sv. Jiří (Basilica of St. George), Edited…

14 Jul 2013 135
This is one of the oldest institutions, if not buildings, in Prague, dating to 920 as an institution, although the current building dates to 1142, after the original was destroyed by fire. The reason it looks Baroque is that in the 17th Century it was covered over by a Baroque facade. The House of the Stone Bell in Staromestske Namesti also had such a facade until the 1960's when it was restored. With the (start of) construction of St. Vitus Cathedral in 1344, the Basilica of St. George was demoted in importance in the castle, but survived. However, due to its advanced age, it is the location of many historic tombs. These include St. Ludmila of Bohemia (860-921), Vratislav I (888-921), Boleslav II (932-999), and even allegedly Libuse (700's), the mysterious, legendary ruler of Bohemia. Libuse's history is so unknown that her existence is somewhat in doubt, although it does beg the question whose bones are actually buried here. It also would beg the question who founded the Premyslid dynasty. Libuse supposedly also had a father named Krok who had his own ancestors going back to the theoretical "Ur-Czech," supposedly the first Czech. Libuse is credited with having founded Prague and the Vysehrad castle, although this is perhaps an anachronism as there are records both of Prazky Hrad predating Vysehrad, and of Libuse's descendent Borivoj having moved the Czech capital from Levy Hradec to Prague during his reign (although the exact date is unknown, being probably around the time of his promotion, to Duke rather than King, in 870). On the photographic side of things, this is my first shot online taken with CVS store brand film with 400 ISO. This particular variety, with negative markings of 400N CH25, is actually manufactured by Fuji.