Divis was a pastor in Primetice, a neighborhood in Znojmo near the Austrian border.
Divis developed an interest in electricity, a little-understood subject in his time.
He began experimenting with small electric voltages, achieving notable success in promoting plant growth and therapy.
He published his findings and even demonstrated them at the Imperial Court in Vienna.
The news of Richmanns death inspired Divis to study atmospheric electricity.
His theories were considered fringe science even in his time and were largely ignored.
Receiving no responses, Divis decided to build such a machine in his own parish.
The unit consisted of several tin boxes and more than 400 metal spikes.
At the time, a well-established theory suggested that pointed spikes would conduct electricity more effectively.
Divis described his invention as highly effective at driving off storms.
Several local newspapers and novelty papers from Southern Germany reported on his attempts.
Despite his enthusiasm, Divis’s invention faced skepticism from the scientific community.
However, the villagers took offense, leading church superiors to advise Divis to stop his experiments.
Family house of Prokop Divis with his weather machine on the right.
Despite their efforts, the theory was largely ignored.
Danish scientist Johannes Nikolaus Tetens dismissed it as a work of fantasy.
For decades, Benjamin Franklin was credited as the inventor of the lightning rod.
