Elderly man adjusting lunar clock for half a century

By Emre Bastug

SARAJEVO (AA) - A 71-year-old Bosnian man has been adjusting the world’s only public lunar clock once a week after climbing 76-step tower for half a century.

Mensur Zlatar has been known as the keeper of Sarajevo’s prayer time, a post with the title "muvakkit" -- a person whose duty is to determine the time for prayer.

He has been fixing the mechanism on the clock tower of Sahat-Kula in Sarajevo’s old city, once an Ottoman-era central market, since 1967.

The rare tower, which was built in the 16th century next to the grand Gazi Husrev-beg mosque, named after the Ottoman’s high-ranking officer, shows the lunar time on its four facades.

Zlatar climbs the tower at least once a week to adjust the clock's hand on 12 when the sun sets, the time for evening prayer for Muslim worshippers.

When the clock strikes 12, the Adhan -- a call to prayer -- begins from the minarets across the city.

He said that there is no other clock in the world operating in accordance with the lunar calendar, adding: "This job needs sacrifice and sensibility."

Bosnian man also said he continued to adjust the clock even during the Bosnian War in 1992-1995.

Zlatar said he began to train a younger Bosnian about the mechanism and the working principle of the clock; however, added that Gazi Husrev-beg Foundation will decide who will be responsible for the clock.