666 Years: Unraveling the Dark Anniversary and Its Footprints in the Czech Republic

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The infamous number of the beast, referred to as the Antichrist and a representation of evil, the number 666 has sparked curiosity and reverence for ages. In the Bible, specifically in the book The Revelation of Saint John of the New Testament, it is presented as an enigmatic code: “Wisdom is needed here. He that hath understanding, let him calculate the number of the beast. For it is the number of man. And his number is six hundred and sixty-six.”

This passage stands as one of the most intricate and extensively debated excerpts in the Bible. Join Which Way Out of Boredom to delve into the author’s intended message and discover its true meaning.

Issue 666: Fear, Provocation, and Wit

According to ancient gematria, a mystical method of interpreting texts based on the numerical values of the letters, this number is believed to secretly refer to the Roman emperor Nero: his name totals precisely this value. Others interpret the three sixes as a representation of imperfection—since seven signifies completeness, six falls just short, and its triplicate enhances this association. Martin Luther, in his writings against the papacy, connected this number to the Pope, whom he labeled the Antichrist.

In summary, throughout history, the number 666 has become synonymous with darkness, evil, and everything that stands in opposition to divine order. It has been linked with witchcraft, Satanism, and occult practices. During the Middle Ages, the fear surrounding this number was so intense that it was omitted from numbering, much like the contemporary fear of the number thirteen.

The Three Sixes Connection continues to be feared by many even today, leading to the existence of an official phobia known as hexakosioihexekontahexaphobia. Those affected tend to avoid or skip the number 666 in contexts like house numbers, airline tickets, hotel rooms, or license plates. Conversely, others mock it or exploit it as a crude marketing tactic. Numerous bands, festivals, and bars have taken on the number 666 because “darkness” draws attention and feels edgy.

From Charles IV to the Number of the Beast: Magical Anniversaries Between 2020 and 2023

How do different places and institutions in the Czech Republic engage with such a number? Do they celebrate it, or prefer to let it pass quietly? Discover this with Which Way from Boredom as we explore between 2020 and 2030. Find out which locations in the Czech Republic are observing their 666th anniversaries during this period.

What might Charles IV have thought about the “number of the beast”? A fan of horoscopes, hidden meanings, and magical symbols, the exploration of the church’s cross and the Premyslid and Luxembourg lines in Prague confirms this fascination. However, he undoubtedly wouldn’t have trifled with the devil. Yet, it is the years 2020 to 2030 and the milestone of 666 that are linked to his reign.

Years 2021, 2022, and 2023

Year 2021: On April 5, 1355, 666 years ago, Charles IV entered through the gates at the Castle of the Angels in Rome to receive his crown as Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire.
Year 2022: We celebrated both 700 years since the birth of Charles IV and 666 years since the issuance of the Golden Bull of Charles IV. This should not be mistaken for the Golden Bull of Sicily; in this case, it was the foundational constitutional law of the Roman Empire.

Charles’s Golden Bull remained effective until the Empire’s dissolution in 1806. In 1356, Kašperk Castle, and potentially Radyně Castle, were also established.

Year 2023: Several noteworthy anniversaries coincide with the mystical number 666. During this year, Karlovy Vary celebrated its spa season under this magical number. The first record of Charles’s castle at Purkarec dates back to 1357, the same year that the king founded Karlsfried Castle.

This castle was designed to safeguard the trade route leading to Zittau and is located in German Saxony, west of Hrádek nad Nisou, although it eventually fell into ruin.

The anniversary marked by the number 666 was also significant at Karlštejn Castle, where on March 27, 1357, Charles IV founded the Collegiate Chapter of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary, dedicated to praying for our nation and serving in the Castle. The Karlštejn Chapter continues to fulfill its sacred mission, making Karlštejn more than just a monument or tourist site; it is a revered emblem of Charles’s era.

Moreover, on July 9, 1357, as recorded by chronicler Benes Boxes of Weitmile, the cornerstone of Charles Bridge was laid on what is now Crusader Square in Prague’s Old Town, where a statue of Charles stands today. The specific time 5:31 AM was deliberate, chosen for being a palindrome. Words, phrases, or sequences that sound identical forwards and backwards create a clever wordplay similar to cryptograms.

The legend surrounding the sequence 1-3-5-7-9-7-5-3-1 is noteworthy, but the catch is that it was conceived hundreds of years after the establishment of Charles Bridge. It was likely originated by philosopher and astronomer Zdeněk Horský in 1979. Nevertheless, we do know many fascinating details about the bridge; for instance, it is considered one of the most photogenic and sought-after locations on Instagram. According to Reflex website, it is even labeled as our most traversed monument. To quantify this, Charles Bridge stretches precisely five hundred and sixteen meters long, with an average human step measuring approximately seventy-five centimeters. If around twelve and a half million visitors cross the bridge each year, that totals to twenty-five million feet each year and totals to nearly nine billion steps. Given the bridge’s existence for over six centuries, it undeniably ranks among the most visited sites.

While we indeed have abundant knowledge regarding Charles Bridge and could concoct numerous anniversaries and fantastic celebrations, the exact date of its founding remains elusive. Historically, the date is often thought to be June 15, coinciding with the feast of St. Vitus, whom Charles favored as the patron saint of the country, but this remains speculation. Ultimately, the only certainty is the year 1357, and the bridge celebrated its 666th anniversary in 2023.

Six Hundred and Sixty-Six Years: Czech Anniversaries with a Touch of Magic and Fear from 2024 to 2030

You might wonder if celebrated anniversaries of the 666th kind seem inappropriate or bizarre, especially considering its association with Satan’s number. In the context of our homeland, the answer appears to be no: in 2014, Charles University, founded in 1348, proudly marked its 666th year. Similarly, Kost Castle celebrated its own 666 years in 2015. What about the other years standing by?

Year 2024: In villages like Malé Hradisko, Horní Němčí, Lipnice near Český Rudolc, or Baliny, 666 years since the first written mentions might be observed. Also, in 1358, Charles IV established a belt of vineyards around Prague, undoubtedly yielding devilishly delightful grapes!
Year 2025: In 1359, Master Theodoric, a renowned painter of panel paintings and murals from the High Bohemian Gothic era, made Prague his home. His earliest commission likely involved paintings for the Old Royal Palace at Prague Castle.
Year 2026: It’s speculated that Hussite warlord Jan Žižka of Trocnov was born around 1360.
Year 2027: In this year, a famine plagued the Czech lands, a harsh period still remembered by the Hunger Wall on Petrin Hill. In February 1361, the future King Wenceslas IV was born, and Italy also saw the founding of the University of Padua.
Year 2028: In 1362, Queen Anna Svídnická, the third wife of Charles IV and the Czech queen and Roman empress, passed away in Prague. That same year, prosperous townspeople in Žatec constructed a town hall.
Year 2029: The devil’s number 666 was once again present, as a plague struck the Czech lands in 1363.
Year 2030: Finally, the 666th anniversary will be commemorated with the construction of the Wooden Radošov Bridge over the Ohře River. Permission to build it was granted on April 16, 1364, by the town of Ostrov, enhanced by Emperor Charles IV to improve the original ford at Salt Trail to Prague. Naturally, the current bridge is not the original, but its 666 years of existence certainly makes it worthy of celebration!