Rundetårn 1735 - 1750

Johan Herman Thiele made this engraving of Rundetårn, or the Round Tower, in Denmark, sometime in the 17th or early 18th century. It shows a tall, cylindrical building adorned with windows and topped with an observation deck. This tower was not just an architectural feat; it was an institution, built in the 17th century as an astronomical observatory. Its design reflects the era's fascination with science and the cosmos, during the reign of King Christian IV. Its ramp was specifically designed to allow horse-drawn carriages to carry instruments to the top. Rundetårn embodies the era’s investment in knowledge and the public role of science. The tower stands as a testament to a society that valued learning and sought to elevate its understanding of the universe. Examining the archives from this period, we can see how deeply science and public life were intertwined.