6
T
P
S
. M A T H E M A
I C H -
H Y S I С S
A L O N
THEATERPLATZ 1
Today ’ s permanent exhibition in the Zwinger shines a
spotlight on objects that show how we began to understand
our world : The development of the clock – from the early
modern period to its production in the manufactory in
Glashütte , Saxony , in the nineteenth century – is presented
next to a celestial globe from the late thirteenth century , one
of only five known globes from this period , created in today ’ s
Iran . The calculating machine developed by the French
mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal can be tried
out by visitors as a 3D model , and elaborate digital animation
allows for a glimpse of the inner life of many objects : for
example , the drumming bear of 1625 , who sports real fur and
a clock - face on his chest . As long as the clock ticks , the
bear ’ s eyes roll back and forth .
The Langgalerie , which extends from the Kronentor to the
central pavilion , now houses the display on mechanical
marvels and mathematical instruments from around 1600 .
This part of the exhibition reveals how the collection
originated in the 16th - century Kunstkammer , or ‘ chamber of
the arts ,’ of the Electors of Saxony , which was housed within
the Palace at their court seat in Dresden . It explores the
Electors ’ intensive engagement with questions relating to
measurement , surveying , and astronomy , and their
enthusiasm for elaborate mechanical devices .
In the newly - created exhibition space within the Zwinger
ramparts an array of terrestrial and celestial globes are on
display from the Salon ’ s world - famous collection . The oldest
exhibit on show here is an Islamic celestial globe dating from
the 13th century . For the first time , these fragile artifacts will
be able to be presented completely protected from the
harmful effects of daylight .
The pavilion ’ s upper floor , the grand Festsaal , is dedicated to
the history of the Salon within the Zwinger itself . Until 1945
this room housed the Salon ’ s entire holdings . Visitors can
retrace the original idea and motives that lay behind
installing a cabinet of physical instruments here in the mid -
18th century . It is here that the official local time for Dresden
was determined over period of 150 years and that the first
systematic meteorological measurements of the region were
made .