Shakespeare to Chennai

“Hoisted by his own petard”

               The aforementioned is a phrase that originates in Shakespeare's play Hamlet, spoken by Hamlet in Act 3, Scene 4. How does this have to do anything with our Chennai? Well you would be surprised that it has everything to do with Chennai specifically our fort St. George. The antique exchange building of Fort St George, Today's Fort museum is a host to a antique killer artillery weapon called Petard. The deadly black painted weapon that's stationed in the gallery has two wooden staff with 3 prongs at the end of each one resembling a devil's pitchfork. Now what this machine killer has to do with Shakespeare? Well to answer that question you have to read till the end. 

     The word petard comes from a french word péter which means fart. Yes you heard it right!! Its definitely explosion on the air only this time its far better it puts holes through the doors. It was first invented in France by 1579.

      A petard is used to blast the entrance doorways of a fort to get easy access during a war. A petard has a base called Madrier , with a cupula or iron cup in the shape of a bell in other words fusil. This  contains the gun powder for the explosion. The fusil with a slow burn rope when lit will leave a massive explosion leading to a hole on the entrance doors. This especially comes handy during a siege. The petard of Fort St George has a madrier of 55*55 cm and the fusil  of 25.5 cm in Diameter. The Shakespeare's phrase gives us clues to how this archaic artillery functions.

 A petard can blow the petardier if the petardier deems to be slow. And Shakespeare's phrase points exactly that. "Hoisted by his own petard" means to be thrown upward by one's one bomb. Which means falling in one's own trap or plan. 

Fig 1.1: Caricature of Shakespeare's Phrase. Source: Google 

Now next time you visit the museum have a close look at the petard. The fusil here is not made by iron but brass. You may also come across the hoops on each corner of the madrier which is used for fixating the petard. 

Fig 1.2: Image of Petard from fort St. George Museum. Source: Google YV VENKAT blog. 

  

        Remember don't knock the doors of museum on Fridays , you would be denied access as it is a holiday. Except on that day you can visit the museum from 9. a.m. to 5.p.m. I will advice you to go before 4.30 p.m. as you don't wan't to mess with staffs who are ready to rush home.