The Legend of Vana Toomas (Old Thomas) part 1 of 2

History of Estonia Podcast

The legend of Vana Toomas (old Thomas). In this episode we are going to cover something that almost everyone that has stood in Tallinn’s town hall square is probably familiar with. The weather vein of vana toomas, has sat on town hall square since the year 1530. It is a symbol of Tallinn as well as one of its legendary defenders. In 1944, Old Thomas was hit during a Russian bombardment. The burnt spire was reconstructed and a new copy of Vana Toomas erected in 1952. In 1996 the spire was renovated and the third Vana Toomas figure was put on it to guard Tallinn. The original weather vane is kept in the Town Hall. The one erected in 1952 is shown at the Tallinn City Museum.