Johann Goethe wrote the immortal tragedy "Faust" for 60 years. The work, which has become iconic for world literature, was inspired by the legend of Doctor Faust, where the action unfolds around the sale of the soul of Doctor to the Devil. Despite the fact that Faust himself was a historical person, after his death legends and fiction were intertwined into a single tangle of secrets.
This house in Prague, on the south side of Charles Square, is now called the House of Faust. According to legend, in the 16th century, the German warlock Johann Georg Faust lived here. The Czechs believe that it was here that the hero of Goethe's novel made a famous deal with the Devil, signing the contract in blood. When the earthly service of the warlock was exhausted, the Devil called him to himself. The exodus happened with such force that Faust punched a hole in the ceiling. The craftsmen who came to fix the ceiling did not succeed right away. And only after a while the "hell" hole was repaired.
Dark matter
The real Johann Faust was born in 1480 in the German town of Knitlingen. There are other versions though. Having received his education, 28-year-old Faust got a job as a teacher in Kreuznach. However, his strange experiences and somewhat mystical appearance frightened the inhabitants of the town, and Faust was expelled from Kreuznach.
However, according to another legend, until the age of 29, Johann studied theology at the University of Heidelberg, where he became a bachelor of theology. His fascination with mysticism led him to the University of Krakow, where he continued to satisfy his craving for magic. After that, the warlock traveled around Europe, earning a living by providing services to people to remove damage and impose conspiracies. The most interesting thing is that although they were afraid of Faust, he did not have an end to his clients. That could not but worry the local authorities. In 1532, the Nuremberg authorities banned the entry into the city of "the great sodomite and necromancer Dr. Faust." The Erfurt authorities were of the same opinion.
According to historical sources, in 1540, during a magic ceremony in a hotel in the city of Staufen im Breisgau, a violent explosion was heard. Faust died, and his body was a pitiful sight. The people examining the corpse considered that it was only the Devil himself who personally came for his servant.
However, the inhabitants of Prague had a different opinion. They insist that if Faust was taken away by the Devil, then it happened in the house on Charles Square. And, oddly enough, they have a reason.
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In sequence
The building, which today bears the name "House of Faust", was built on the site of the palace of the first royal dynasty of Bohemia - the Přemyslids. One of the members of the dynasty, Prince Wenceslas, was keenly interested in physical and chemical experiments. For this, the people quickly christened him a warlock and a servant of Satan. A little later, during the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II (1552-1612), that is, after the death of the historical Faust, the house was bought by the imperial astrologer Jakub Kutsinke. His two sons, who lived here, did not share something, and the younger stabbed the older one. For this, the killer was hanged in Wenceslas Square.
In 1590 the house was purchased by the English alchemist Edward Kelly. Using various tricks, Kelly won the authority of the powerful and, not without benefit, deceived the aristocrats. However, after Kelly killed the favorite of Emperor Rudolph II, Jiří Gunther, he was imprisoned, where he died.
The next owner of the house in 1724 was Ferdinand Mladota. He conducted many experiments in chemistry and physics, people often saw the reflections of fire in the windows. Mladota's work was continued by his son Peter, who was also considered a magician and feared.
It is not surprising that by the beginning of the 19th century, the house on Charles Square was associated with the abode of the servants of Satan. Therefore, when Goethe published his Faust in 1808, the people of Prague decided that this house was perfect for the rebellious doctor.
Credible historical records do not indicate Faust's visit to Prague. But the legend turned out to be extremely tenacious, and the new residents of the house only reinforced it. So, at the end of the 19th century, priest Karel Jaenig settled in the house. He smeared the walls of his apartment with black paint and grave inscriptions, and he himself slept in a coffin instead of a bed. There was a skull on Karel's desk, and a noose hung in the corner of his room.
Wanting to destroy the building's ominous reputation, the Prague authorities placed a hospital in it in 1903. But on February 14, 1945, a bomb hit the house. Having broken through the roof and overlapping of two floors, for some reason it did not explode. They say that the hole from her was exactly in the place through which the Devil took Faust.
So don't believe in mysticism after that.
Magazine: Mysteries of History №23. Author: Lev Kaplin