Bells Around The World
Some of the Largest and Heaviest Bells Ever Cast
Mingun Bell
The Mingun Bell, located in the Sagaing Region of Myanmar, was cast between 1808 and 1810.
With a weight of about 90.7 tons and measures 4.95 meters in diameter and 3.51 meters in height.
The bell remains uncracked, is in excellent ringing condition, and is sounded by striking its outer edge. It held the title of the world’s largest ringing bell until the year 2000, when the “Bell of Good Luck” surpassed it.
Tsar Bell
Also known as the Tsarsky Kolokol, Tsar Kolokol III, or Royal Bell.
Displayed on the grounds of the Moscow Kremlin, Casting started in the 16th century and the third try was completed in 1737.
With a weight of about 202 tons and measures 6.6 meters in diameter and 6.14 meters in height.
During a fire of the temporary wood support in 1734 the bell cracked and a 10-ton pieces broke of the bell.
The bell, which was never rung, served for a time as a chapel, its damaged section forming an entrance.
The Great Bell of Dhammazedi
The tale of the Great Bell of Dhammazedi dates back to the year 1480.
In 1608, Filipe de Brito resolved to take the Great Bell of Dhammazedi from the Shwedagon Pagoda.
He moved the bell to the Bago River, where it was placed on a raft. The raft disintegrated, and the bell sank to the bottom of the river.
A total of almost 300 tons of copper. In addition to this metal, silver, gold, and tin are said to have been used in the casting of the bell.
A Venetian merchant Gasparo Balbi, described the size of the bell as:
“I found in a fair hall a very large bell which we measured, and found to be seven paces and three hand breadths and it is full of letters from the top to the bottom, so near together that one touches the other, but there was no Nation that could understand them.”