Aachen Cathedral: Difference between revisions
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The bronze leaves attached to this porch, the ''Wolfstür'' (Wolf's Door), weigh 43 [[hundredweight]] altogether (cf. with this the [[Lousberg]] saga). The main entrance to the cathedral, the door was cast in Aachen around 800 and was located between the westwork and the octagon in the so-called hexadecagon up to 1788. The portal was restored in 1924.<ref>Hans Jürgen Roth: ''Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst'', Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 7.</ref> Each leaf is divided into eight rectangles – a number which had religious symbolism in [[Christianity]], as a symbol of Sunday, the day of the [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and also of perfection (as did twelve, also) and can be found in the measurements of the [[Palatine Chapel, Aachen|Palatine Chapel]] over and over again. These boxes were framed by decorative strips, which are made of egg-shaped decorations. The egg was considered a symbol of life and fertility from antiquity. In Christian belief it was imbued with the even wider symbolism of [[Eternal life (Christianity)|Eternal Life]]. The door-rings in the shape of lions' heads are wreathed by 24 (i.e. two times twelve or three times eight) [[acanthus (ornament)|acanthus scrolls]] – again to be understood at the deepest level through numerology. The Wolfstür's imitation of the shape of the [[ancient Rome|ancient Roman]] temple door signifies Charlemagne's claim, to have established a [[New Rome]] in Aachen with the Palatine Chapel as the distinctive monumental building.<ref>Vgl. Hans Jürgen Roth: ''Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst'', Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 8.</ref> |
The bronze leaves attached to this porch, the ''Wolfstür'' (Wolf's Door), weigh 43 [[hundredweight]] altogether (cf. with this the [[Lousberg]] saga). The main entrance to the cathedral, the door was cast in Aachen around 800 and was located between the westwork and the octagon in the so-called hexadecagon up to 1788. The portal was restored in 1924.<ref>Hans Jürgen Roth: ''Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst'', Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 7.</ref> Each leaf is divided into eight rectangles – a number which had religious symbolism in [[Christianity]], as a symbol of Sunday, the day of the [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and also of perfection (as did twelve, also) and can be found in the measurements of the [[Palatine Chapel, Aachen|Palatine Chapel]] over and over again. These boxes were framed by decorative strips, which are made of egg-shaped decorations. The egg was considered a symbol of life and fertility from antiquity. In Christian belief it was imbued with the even wider symbolism of [[Eternal life (Christianity)|Eternal Life]]. The door-rings in the shape of lions' heads are wreathed by 24 (i.e. two times twelve or three times eight) [[acanthus (ornament)|acanthus scrolls]] – again to be understood at the deepest level through numerology. The Wolfstür's imitation of the shape of the [[ancient Rome|ancient Roman]] temple door signifies Charlemagne's claim, to have established a [[New Rome]] in Aachen with the Palatine Chapel as the distinctive monumental building.<ref>Vgl. Hans Jürgen Roth: ''Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst'', Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 8.</ref> |
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In the forehall, there is a [[bronze sculpture]] of a bear, which was probably made in the 10th century, i.e. in [[Ottonian]] times.<ref>Ernst Künzl: ''Die antike Bärin im Dom zu Aachen''. Reprint from the ''Jahrbuch des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums'' 49, 2002, ISBN 978-3-88467-083-5.</ref> Opposite it is a bronze pine cone with 129 perforated scales, which stands 91 cm high (including its base); its date is controversial and ranges from the 3rd to the 10th century. Its base is clearly Ottonian and includes an inscription written in [[Leonine verse|Leonine hexameter]], which refers to the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]] rivers of [[Mesopotamia]]. According to one view, the pine cone would originally have served as a waterspout on a fountain and would been placed in the atrium of the Palatine chapel in Carolingian times.<ref>[http://www.inschriften.net/aachen-dom/inschrift/nr/di031 |
In the forehall, there is a [[bronze sculpture]] of a bear, which was probably made in the 10th century, i.e. in [[Ottonian]] times.<ref>Ernst Künzl: ''Die antike Bärin im Dom zu Aachen''. Reprint from the ''Jahrbuch des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums'' 49, 2002, ISBN 978-3-88467-083-5.</ref> Opposite it is a bronze pine cone with 129 perforated scales, which stands 91 cm high (including its base); its date is controversial and ranges from the 3rd to the 10th century. Its base is clearly Ottonian and includes an inscription written in [[Leonine verse|Leonine hexameter]], which refers to the [[Tigris]] and [[Euphrates]] rivers of [[Mesopotamia]]. According to one view, the pine cone would originally have served as a waterspout on a fountain and would been placed in the atrium of the Palatine chapel in Carolingian times.<ref>[http://www.inschriften.net/aachen-dom/inschrift/nr/di031 |
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The upper level is characterised by an exceptionally fine brick western wall. Inside, it bulges outward, while the outside bulges inwards, so that the Carolingian west wall can be seen as a convex-concave bulge. Before the construction of the porch in the 18th century, the Carolingian west facade, when seen from the [[Narthex]], was particularly evocative: a large niche, topped by a semicircular arch in the western upper level corresponded to the semicircle of the barrel vault of the lower level. |
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Today, the western wall is broken up by the large western window. The large window frame dates from the [[Gothic art|Gothic period]] and replaced a smaller window from Carolingian times, which was probably structured as a [[mullion]] (a double arch with a column in the centre). The modern window was designed by [[Ewald Mataré]] in 1956. Mataré's design imitates, however abstractly, the structure of the Carolingian bronze gate inside the dome. Bronze and unprocessed [[quartz]] form the window itself. |
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The function of the upstairs part of the west facade is not entirely clear. The right of baptism (long reserved for the Collegiate Church of Mary) was at a [[baptismal font]], which was behind the marble throne, until the end of the ''[[Ancien Régime]]''.<ref>Ludwig Falkenstein: ''Karl der Große und die Entstehung des Aachener Marienstiftes''. Paderborn 1981, ISBN 3-506-73253-6, p. 64.</ref> Possibly the space was involved in these ceremonies. Furthermore, in the western wall, under the great west window, there is a ''Fensetella'' (small window) even today, through which there is line of sight to the court below, the former atrium.<ref>Leo Hugot: ''Der Westbau des Aachener Domes''. In ''Aachener Kunstblätter.'' 24/25 (1962/63): 108–126.</ref> It is certain that the so-called ''Carolingian Passage'' entered this room on its northern wall, connecting the [[Aula Regia]] (King's Hall) in the north of the [[Palace of Aachen|palace]] with the church. |
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The lower, barrel-vaulted room in the west probably served as [[Charlemagne]]'s sepulchre after his death on 28 January 814 and his burial in the [[Persephone sarcophagus]]. |
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The floors of the western facade lying above this room were remodelled in the first half of the 14th century and in the 17th century; the tower was completed between 1879 and 1884. |
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=== The Carolingian Octagon (Palatine chapel) === |
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[[File:AachenDomInsideOktogon.jpg|thumb|right|View of the Octagon]] |
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[[File:Aachen Cathedral Barbarossaleuchter.jpg|thumb|hochkant|The [[Barbarossa chandelier]] under the dome of the Octagon]] |
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[[File:AachenerDomDecke.jpg|thumb|hochkant|[[Byzantine architecture|Byzantine style]] [[Mosaic|Cupola Mosaic]]]] |
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[[File:Ceiling Civitas Dei, Entrance of the Cathedral, Aachen, Germany.jpg|thumb|"Civitas Dei" (The City of God), [[Byzantine architecture|Neo Byzantine]] style [[mosaic]] of the ceiling at the entrance of the Cathedral of Aachen]] |
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The [[Octagon (architecture)|Octagon]] in the centre of the Cathedral was erected as the chapel of the [[Palace of Aachen]] between 796 and 805 on the model of other contemporary [[Byzantine]] buildings (e.g. the [[Basilica of San Vitale]] in [[Ravenna]] and the [[Little Hagia Sophia]] in [[Constantinople]]).<ref>[http://www.monumente-online.de/05/05/streiflicht/10_Aachen.php Wider den Zahn der Zeit - Der Dom zu Aachen], Monumente online - Magazine of the [[Deutsche Stiftung Denkmalschutz]], September 2005, accessed on 19 October 2013.</ref> The architect was [[Odo of Metz]]. The span and height of [[Charlemagne]]'s [[Palatine Chapel in Aachen|Palatine chapel]] was unsurpassed north of the [[Alps]] for over two hundred years. |
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The Palatine chapel consisted of a high octagonal room with a two story circuit below. The inner octagon is made up of strong pillars, on which an octagonal [[cloister vault]] lies, covering the central room. Around this inner octagon is a sixteen sided circuit of low [[groin vault]]s, supporting a high gallery above. This upper story was known as the ''Hochmünster'' (high church). The arched openings of the lower story are only about half as high as those of the ''Hochmünster'', as a result of which the lower story looks stocky and bulky. The two floors are separated from each other by an expansive cornice. The high altar and Imperial throne are located on the upper circuit of the Palatine chapel in an octagonal side room, covered by a [[barrel vault]] lying on an angle. This area was connected with the palace by a passage. Above the arches of the gallery, an octagonal drum with window openings rises, on top of which is the cupola. |
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The upper gallery openings are divided by a grid of columns. These columns are ancient and come from [[St. Gereon's Basilica, Cologne|St. Gereon]] in [[Cologne]]. Charlemagne allowed further [[spolia]] to be brought to [[Aachen]] from [[Rome]] and [[Ravenna]] at the end of the 8th century. In 1794, during the French occupation of the [[Rheinland]], they were removed to [[Paris]], but in 1815 up to half the pieces remaining in the [[Louvre]] were brought back to Aachen. In the 1840s they were restored to their original places once more and new columns of Odenberg granite were substituted for the missing columns. The round arched openings in the upper floor in the side walls of the octagon, between the columns, in front of a mezzanine, are decorated with a metre-high railing of Carolingian bronze rails. These bronze rails were cast 1200 years ago in a single piece according to Roman models. The original cupola mosaic was probably executed around 800 and known from Medieval sources depicted Christ as the triumphant lord of the world, surrounded by the symbols of the [[Four Evangelists]], with the twenty-four elders from the [[Apocalypse of John]] offering their crowns to him. In 1880/[[1881|1]] it was recreated by the [[Venice|Venetian]] workshop of [[Antonio Salviati]], according to the plans of the [[Belgian]] architect [[Jean-Baptiste de Béthune]]. |
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The exterior walls of the Carolingian octogon, made of quarry stone, is largely unjointed and lacks further ornamentation. The only exception is that the projections of the pillars of the cupola are crowned by antique capitals. Above the Carolingian masonry, there is a [[Romanesque architecture|Romanesque]] series of arches above a late Roman gable. The Octagon is crowned by unusual [[baroque]] vents. |
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Aachen Cathedral was plastered red in the time of Charlemagne, according to the most recent findings of the Rheinish Office for Monuments. This plaster was made longer-lasting through the addition of crushed red brick. The colour was probably also a reference to the imperial associations of the work.<ref>see: [http://www.wirtschaft.ch/Aachener+Dom+war+einst+rot+verputzt/155549/detail.htm www.wirtschaft.ch]</ref> |
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==== Geometry of the Palatine Chapel ==== |
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The question of which geometric concepts and basic dimensions lie at the basis of the chapel's construction is not entirely clear even today. Works of earlier cathedral architects mostly followed either the [[Foot (measurement)#Historical origin|Drusian foot (334mm) or the Roman foot (295.7mm)]]. However, these measurements require complex theories to explain the church's actual dimensions.<ref>[http://www.welt.de/regionales/koeln/article106608762/Das-Raetsel-um-den-Bau-des-Aachener-Doms.html ''Das Rätsel um den Bau des Aachener Doms'']. Welt, 16. Juni 2012.</ref> In 2012, the architectural historian Ulrike Heckner proposed a theory of a new, hitherto unknown unit of measure of 322.4mm, the so-called Carolingian foot, to which all other measurements in the Palatine chapel can be traced back. This measurement is referred to as the ''Aachener Königsfuß'' (Aachen royal foot), after the similarly sized [[Units of measurement in France before the French Revolution|Parisian royal foot]] (324.8mm).<ref>Ulrike Heckner: [http://www.denkmalpflege.lvr.de/dokumentation/zurgeometriederpfalzkapelleaachen.pdf ''Die perfekte Geometrie der Pfalzkapelle Karls des Großen''] (PDF; 376 kB). LVR-Amt für Denkmalpflege im Rheinland, 2012.</ref> |
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Beyond this, there is a symbolic layer to the octagon. Eight was a symbol of the [[The eighth day (Christian)|eighth day]] (Sunday as the sabbath) and therefore symbolised the [[Resurrection of Jesus Christ]] and the promise of eternal life. Likewise, ten, the number of perfection in Medieval architectural symbolism, is frequent in the Palatine Chapel: Its diameter (including the circuit surrounding the dome) measures a hundred Carolingian feet (i.e. ten by ten) - equivalent to the height of the dome.<ref>Hans Jürgen Roth: ''Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom – Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst.'' Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 23.</ref> |
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<gallery mode=packed> |
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Aachen Dehio 1887.jpg|Ground plan & cross-sections |
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Aachener Dom 1520.jpg|Aachen Cathedral 1520, depicted by [[Albrecht Dürer]] |
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Aachen Dom 1.2.jpg|Bronze model near the main entrance |
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</gallery> |
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=== Choir === |
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Between 1355 and 1414, on the initiative of the [[Marienstift (Aachen)|Marienstift]] and the Mayor of Aachen [[Gerhard Chorus]] (1285–1367), a [[Gothic architecture|Gothic]] [[Choir (architecture)|Choir]] was built to the east of the Octagon. Before this there must have been a rectangular Carolingian choir. |
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The Gothic choir measures 25m in length, 13m wide and 32m high. It external wall is broken, as much as possible, by windows - the surface area of the glass is more than 1,000m² and led to the name ''Glashaus'' (Glass house). This was conceived as a glass [[reliquary]] for the holy relics of Aachen and for the body of Charlemagne. The design is arranged on the model of the [[Sainte-Chapelle]] in [[Paris]], likewise a space for important relics and a royal palace chapel. |
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For the protection of the vault of the choir, iron rods were built in at the time of construction, to counter the lateral force on the narrow stone supports and to allow as much space as possible between them for window space. |
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<gallery mode=packed> |
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Chorhalle Apostelzyklus2.jpg|Choir with illuminated Apostles and Karlsschrein |
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Karlsschrein front side left.jpg|[[Karlsschrein]] (between 1182 and 1215) |
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GrabOtto III.JPG|Tomb of [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor]] (r.996-1002) |
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Aachen cathedral 007.JPG|[[Marienschrein]] (1238), among the Aachen reliquaries. |
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AachenerDomKanzel.jpg|[[Ambon of Henry II]] on the south wall of the first choir [[bay (architecture)|bay]] |
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Aachener dom altarraum.jpg|View from octagon through the lower entrance to the choir. |
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Chorhalle Orgel.jpg|Organ |
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</gallery> |
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=== Side Chapels === |
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Gathered around the octagon are several side chapels. Clockwise from the southeast, they are: |
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* In the southeast, the Chapel of [[St Matthew]], which was built in the late 14th century, at the same time as the choir which is next to it. |
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* Adjoining the Chapel of St Matthew to the south is the gothic Chapel of [[St Anne]]. The lower level of this was originally the [[narthex]] to one of the Cathedral gates, but later the doors were sealed and the room turned into a chapel. |
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* South of the western facade is the Chapel of [[Hungary]]. Originally a gothic side chapel as well, it was remodelled in the [[Baroque architecture|baroque]] style in the 18th century, following the plans of the Italian architect [[Joseph Moretti]]. |
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* Adjoining the western facade to the north is the Chapel of [[St Nicholas]] & [[St Michael]], of the 15th century with a [[neo-baroque]] altarpiece in the chancel, created in the 20th century by [[Joseph Buchkremer]]. It was formerly the burial place of the canons of Aachen cathedral. |
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* Northeast, the Chapel of [[St Charles]] & [[St Hubert|Hubert]] was built into the octagon. |
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* Further chapels associated with the Cathedral complex are found in the cloisters (All Saints and All Souls Chapel) and in the Cathedral forecourt (Baptismal Chapel) |
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<gallery mode=packed caption="Side Chapels"> |
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Aachen Dom 8.1.jpg|Chapel of St Anne |
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Aachen cathedral south side.jpg|Chapel of St Anne on the left, Chapel of St Matthew on the right |
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AachenerDomVomMuensterplatz.jpg|Chapel of Hungary |
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AachenerDomKapelle.jpg|Chancel of the Chapel of St Nicholas |
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AachenerDomNeueKapelle.jpg|All Saints Chapel |
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</gallery> |
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== Notable Items == |
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=== Medieval Items === |
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[[File:Königsthron Aachener Dom.jpg|thumb|Karlsthron]] |
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[[File:Barbarossaleuchter.jpg|thumb|Barbarossa chandalier]] |
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Aachen Cathedral houses a collection of medieval art objects from the late [[Classical antiquity|Classical]], [[Carolingian]], [[Ottonian]] and [[Staufian]] periods which are exceptional in their artistic and religious meaning. |
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==== Throne of Charlemagne ==== |
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{{Main|Throne of Charlemagne}} |
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In the western gallery on the lower floor, opposite the choir, the Throne of Charlemagne is to be found, which has been the object of new investigations in the past decades. The original Carolingian throne came from the [[spolia]] of the [[Church of the Holy Sepulchre]] in [[Jerusalem]]. The appearance of the throne and its location in the Palatine Chapel did not change with the passage of centuries. Between 936 and 1531, thirty one [[King of the Romans|German kings]] ascended to this throne after their anointment and coronation at the Altar of Mary (→ ''see: [[Coronation of the Holy Roman Emperor]]'') |
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==== Barbarossa Chandelier ==== |
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{{Main|Barbarossa chandelier}} |
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From the vault of the dome, which is made up of eight curved faces, a [[wheel chandelier]] hangs on a long chain, about four metres above the ground, with a diameter of over four metres, which is known as the Barbarossa Chandelier (1165/1170). This artwork was a donation of Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick Barbarossa]] and his wife [[Beatrice I, Countess of Burgundy|Beatrice]]. The forty-eight candels of the chandelier were lit for High Feasts of the church. |
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[[File:Heinrichskanzel.jpg|thumb|left|Ambon of Henry II]] |
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==== Ambon of Henry II. (Heinrichskanzel) ==== |
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{{Main|Ambon of Henry II}} |
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Between 1002 and 1014, [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] had a [[pulpit]] erected as an [[ambon (liturgy)|ambon]] in the east passage, which is among the most magnificent artistic treasures of the [[Ottonian Renaissance]]. Its inscription on the upper and lower edges clearly identifies its donor as Henry II, referring to him as ''REX PIVS HEINRICVS''. The pulpit is made of an oak base and is decorated all over with [[filigree]] and precious stones, with many precious artefacts from antiquity, such as four [[repoussé]] copper reliefs with depictions of the Evangelists, as well as six ivory panels of the 6th century. The wooden staircase dates to 1782. The Ambon was thoroughly restored in 1816/1817 and again between 1926 and 1937. To this day the pulpit is in liturgical use for High Feasts of the church. |
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[[File:Aachen cathedral 007.JPG|thumb|right|[[Marienschrein]]]] |
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[[File:Aachen Pfalzkapelle SchreinKarl3.JPG|thumb|left|[[Karlsschrein]]]] |
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[[File:Aachen cathedral 006.JPG|thumb|Pala d'Oro]] |
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==== Marienschrein ==== |
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{{Main|Marienschrein}} |
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The ''Marienschrein'' (Shrine of St. Mary) rests in the choir of the church and dates from 1220-1239. Adorned with the figures of Christ, Mary, Charlemagne, [[Pope Leo III]] and the Twelve Apostles, the shrine contains the four great Aachen relics: St. Mary's cloak, Christ's swaddling clothes, St. [[John the Baptist]]'s beheading cloth and [[Perizoma (loincloth)|Christ's loincloth]]. Following a custom begun in 1349, every seven years the relics are taken out of the shrine and put on display during the Great Aachen Pilgrimage. This pilgrimage most recently took place during June 2007. |
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==== Pala d'Oro ==== |
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A golden altarpiece, the Pala d'Oro which today forms the [[Antependium]] of the high altar<ref>Ann Münchow, Herta Lepie: ''Pala d' Oro. Der Goldaltar im Dom zu Aachen.'' Wienand Verlag & Medien, Cologne 1996, ISBN 3-87909-520-5.</ref> was probably created around 1020 in [[Fulda]].<ref>[[Ernst Günther Grimme]]: ''Der Aachener Domschatz.'' Schwann, Düsseldorf 1973, p. 10.</ref> It consists of seventeen individual gold panels with reliefs in [[repoussé]]. In the centre, Christ is enthroned as Redeemer in a [[Aureola#Mandorla|Mandorla]], flanked by Mary and the Archangel Michael. Four round medallions with images of the [[Four Evangelists#Evangelists' symbols|Evangelists' symbols]] show the connection to the other twelve relief panels with depictions from the life of Jesus Christ. They begin with the [[Triumphal entry into Jerusalem|entry into Jerusalem]] and end with the encounter of the women with the [[Resurrection of Jesus|risen Christ]] in front of the open grave on [[Easter|Easter morning]]. The depictions are read from left to right, like a book. |
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Stylistically, the Pala d'Oro is not uniform. The first five reliefs probably come from a [[goldsmith]] taught in the [[Rheinland]] and is distinguished by a strikingly joyful narration. It probably derives from a donation of [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Emperor Otto III]]. The other panels, together with the central group of Christ, Mary, and Michael, draws from [[Byzantine art|Byzantine]] and [[Pre-Romanesque art and architecture|late Carolingian]] predecessors and was likely first added under Otto's successor, [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]], who also donated the [[Ambo of Henry II]].<ref name="Herta Lepie 1995">Herta Lepie, Georg Minkenberg: ''Die Schatzkammer des Aachener Domes'', Brimberg, Aachen 1995, ISBN 3-923773-16-1, p. 37.</ref> |
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Presumably, in the late 15th century, the golden altarpiece formed a massive altar system together with the twelve reliefs of apostles in the Cathedral treasury, along with altarpieces with scenes from the life of Mary, which would have been dismantled in 1794 as the [[War of the First Coalition|French Revolutionary troops]] approached Aachen.<ref name="Herta Lepie 1995"/> |
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=== Treasury === |
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{{Main|Aachen Cathedral Treasury}} |
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The Aachen [[cathedral treasury]] includes such unique exhibits like the [[Cross of Lothair]], the [[Bust of Charlemagne]] and the [[Persephone sarcophagus]]. The Cathedral Treasury in Aachen is regarded as one of the most important ecclesiastical treasuries in northern Europe. Pilgrims are able to see some of the relics every seven years when they are displayed.<ref name=EB/> |
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=== Organs === |
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The organ system of Aachen Cathedral was installed in 1939. It consists in part of the earlier organ, installed 1845-1847, which was built by the organ builder [[Wilhelm Korfmacher]] of [[Linnich]]. This ''Korfmacher'' organ had 60 stops, distributed in three works.<ref>Cathedral website on the history of the [http://www.aachendom.de/index29-0.aspx organ] (German)</ref> |
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The current instrument was installed in 1939 by [[Johannes Klais]] ([[Bonn]]) and expanded to 65 stops, which were distributed thereafter in five works. To achieve a balanced sound throughout the cathedral, the parts were distributed through the Cathedral: in the northwest and southwest niches of the choir are the works of the High organ, while a swallow's nest organ was hung on the east pillar of the octagon.<ref>[http://www.aachener-dommusik.de/index29-0.aspx Website of the Cathedral's choir, on the Cathedral's organ].</ref> |
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In 1991-1993, the organ was restored by the [[Johannes Klais|Klais]] organ company and increased to a total of 89 stops.<ref>Current arrangement on the [http://www.orgelbau-klais.com/m.php?tx=116 website of the Klais organ company]</ref> At this time the swallow's nest organ was turned into a new, independent instrument, which now stands in the upper church, between the octagon and the choir. |
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As well as a chamber organ, the Cathedral also has a small organ, called the ''Zoboli Organ''. This was built by the north Italian organ builder, [[Cesare Zomboli]], probably some time around 1850. The pipeworks, windbox, and keyboard survive. The historic housing no longer exists, but the current housing was built later on the model of a north Italian cabinet organ in classicising style. The instrument is arranged in the classic Italian style, with the typical stops of the Roman style as well.<ref>[http://www.aachener-dommusik.de/index27-0.aspx Zoboli Organ]</ref> |
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=== Bells === |
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[[File:Aachener Dom - Aachen Cathedral.jpg|thumb|hochkant|Tower of Aachen Cathedral]] |
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In the belfry of the tower, eight [[bell (instrument)|bell]] hang on wooden yokes in a wooden bell frame. The bells were cast three years after the city fire of 1656 by [[Von Trier (bell casters)|Franz Von Trier]] and his son Jakob. This disposition, altered from that of Medieval times, has been maintained to this day, except that the Marybell has had to be replaced twice. The modern Marybell was made in 1958 and was cast by [[Petit & Gebr. Edelbrock]].<ref>[http://www.glockenbuecheraac.de/pdf/region_aachen_stadt.pdf Bellbook] (PDF; 741 kB) (German)</ref> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|- |
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!# |
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!Name |
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![[Strike tone]]<br />([[Semitone|ST]]-<sup>1</sup>/<sub>16</sub>) |
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!Weight<br />(kg)<ref>[http://www.aachendom.de/index324-0.aspx The Bells of Aachen Cathedral: Official website of Aachen Cathedral], accessed on 28 January 2012.</ref> |
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!Diameter<br />(mm) |
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!Inscription |
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|- |
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|1 || '''[[Mary (Mother of Jesus)|Maria]]''' ||align="center"|'''g<sup>0</sup>''' +8||align="center"|6045||align="center"|2075|| + O MATER ALMA CHRISTI CARISSIMA—SUSCIPE PIA LAUDUM PRAECAMINA. ''(O dearest nourishing mother of Christ, raise praise for our pious hymn)''<br /> GEGOSSEN 1535 + ZERSTOERT 1656 + ERNEUERT 1659 + ZERBORSTEN 1818 + UMGEGOSSEN 1881 + ZERSCHLAGEN 1942 + WIEDERUM ERNEUERT 1958 (''Cast 1535 + Destroyed 1656 + Restored 1659 + Destroyed 1818 + Recast 1881 + Obliterated 1942 + Restored again 1958)'' |
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|2 || '''[[Charlemagne|Carolus]]''' ||align="center"|'''h<sup>0</sup>''' +7||align="center"|2900||align="center"|1628||HONOR ET CULTUS, QUEM REGALIS ECCLESIA AQUEN: SANCTISSIMO IMPERATORI PATRONO AC FUNDATORI SUO CAROLO VIRTUTE, MERITO, IMPERIO VERE MAGNO DEBET ET DEFERT MIHI NOMEN DEDIT ANNO 1 6 5 9 ''(The honour and devotion, which the royal church of Aachen owes and renders to its most sacred Emperor, patron and benefactor: Charles, truly Great in virtue, merit and rule, gave this name to me in the year 1659).'' |
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|3 || '''[[John the Evangelist|Johannes Evangelista]]''' ||align="center"|'''d<sup>1</sup>''' +8||align="center"|1400||align="center"|1367|| NASCENTES INTER SOCIAS MECUM ORDINE PONOR TERTIA, SED CUM QUINTA TONO APPELLATA JOHANNES ''(I am placed third in order among the friends born with me, but I call to John with the fifth tone)'' |
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|4 || '''[[John the Baptist|Johannes Baptista]]''' ||align="center"|'''e<sup>1</sup>''' +7||align="center"|1225||align="center"|1217|| JOHANNES BAPTISTA ORA PRO NOBIS. IN LUDO HAUD IN AGRO FLORENS NOS CURIA FECIT SED LONGO SUB AGRO FUDIT NOS IPSE DECANO. An O. 1 6 5 6 ''(John the Baptist pray for us. Flourishing in play not in the field, the Curia made us, but cast us in a vast field for the dean. 1656)'' |
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|5 || '''[[St Leopardus|Leopardus]]''' ||align="center"|'''fis<sup>1</sup>''' +3 ||align="center"|850 ||align="center"|1078|| SANCTE LEOPARDE ORA PRO NOBIS ANNO 1 6 5 9 ''(Saint Leopardus pray for us. Made 1659.)'' |
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|6 || '''[[St Stephen|Stephanus]]''' ||align="center"|'''g<sup>1</sup>''' +8||align="center"|715||align="center"|1027|| SANCTE STEPHANE ORA PRO NOBIS ANNO 1 6 5 9 ''(St Stephen pray for us. Made 1659.)'' |
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|7 || '''[[St Peter|Petrus]]''' ||align="center"|'''a<sup>1</sup>''' +1||align="center"|425||align="center"|894|| SANCTE PETRE ORA PRO NOBIS ANNO 1 6 5 9 ''(St. Peter pray for us. Made 1659.)'' |
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|8 || '''[[Saint Simon the Zealot|Simeon]]''' ||align="center"|'''h<sup>1</sup>''' +8||align="center"|290||align="center"|793|| SANCTE SIMEON JUSTE ET TIMORATE ORA PRO NOBIS ''(St Simon, just and devout, pray for us)'' |
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== Historical and religious significance == |
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=== Final resting place of Charlemagne === |
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The core of Aachen Cathedral, the Carolingian octagon, was originally erected as Charlemagne's palace chapel and was also his grave. After his death, on 28 January 814, he was buried in his church; the exact spot is unknown, because of the lack of documentation and the ambiguity of the physical evidence. However, it is probable that he was buried in the [[Persephone sarcophagus]] under the west tower at the entrance to the octagon. |
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In 1000, [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] had [[Charlemagne]]'s vault opened. Otto of Lomello, one of the courtiers who accompanied him, recorded the event, which is reported in the Chronicle of Novalesia, written about 1026. The account reads: |
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<blockquote>"So we went in to Charles. He did not lie, as the dead otherwise do, but sat as if he were living. He was crowned with a golden crown and held in his gloved hands a sceptre; the fingernails had penetrated through the gloves and stuck out. Above him was a canopy of limestone and marble. Entering, we broke through this. Upon our entrance, a strong smell struck us. Kneeling, we gave Emperor Charles our homage, and put in order the damage that had been done. Emperor Charles had not lost any of his members to decay, except only the tip of his nose. Emperor Otto replaced this with gold, took a tooth from Charles’s mouth, walled up the entrance to the chamber, and withdrew again."<ref name="otto">''[[Monumenta Germaniae Historica]]'', ''Scriptores'', VII, book III, 32.</ref></blockquote> |
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A large picture representing Otto and his nobles gazing on the dead Emperor was painted on the wall of the great room in the [[Town Hall]]. |
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In 1165, on the occasion of Charlemagne's canonisation, Emperor [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick Barbarossa]] again opened the vault and reintered his remains. In 1215, at his coronation, [[Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick II]] had the remains reinterred for the last time, placing them in a [[Coffin|casket]] of gold and silver, known as the [[Karlsschrein]], where the remains remain to this day. A vellum codex found interred with him was removed. |
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[[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] was buried in the Cathedral as well. |
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=== Coronation church of German kings === |
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On the explicit instructions of Charlemagne, his son [[Louis the Pious]] crowned himself king in the chapel. Between the coronation of [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] in 936 and 1531, thirty German kings (out of ~40) were crowned in the chapel. The coronation itself occurred at the High Altar, followed by the enthronment on the [[Aachen Throne]] of Charlemagne (which can still be seen today). It is also notable that in this period, all German rulers, regardless of whether they were crowned in Aachen or not, took their position on Charlemagne's throne. |
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=== Pilgrimage === |
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The [[Aachen pilgrimage]] is attested from 1238, a [[pilgrimage]], during which the [[relic]]s of the Cathedral can be seen by believers. These relics are kept in the [[Marienschrein]] (1220-1239), in the front part of the choir. Among the relics, there are the nappy and the loincloth of Christ, the dress of Mary, and the decapitation cloth of [[John the Baptist]]. Since 1349, these relics have been displayed once every seven years. The last Aachen Pilgrimage was in 2014 and had the motto, "Go to the land I will show you" (Gen. 12:1).<ref name="pilgrim">[http://en.heiligtumsfahrt2014.de/wissenswertes/heiligtumsfahrt-aachen/]</ref> |
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=== Influence === |
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Already in the Middle Ages, the Aachen Cathedral was admired and imitated, as in the case of [[Essen Minster]], the [[Old Tower (Mettlach)|Old Tower]] in [[Mettlach]] and in the Alsatian [[Abbey Church of Ottmarsheim]]. Construction elements of the octagon and choir were nominated as [[Historic landmarks of German civil engineering]] in 2007. |
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== Dates == |
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[[File:Aachen Dom um 1900.jpg|thumb|Aachen Cathedral c. 1900]] |
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[[File:Stamp Germany 2000 MiNr2088 Aachener Dom.jpg|thumb|To celebrate ''1200 Years of Aachen Cathedral'' in 2000, the Federal Republic of Germany issued these [[commemorative stamp]]s]] |
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* 768–800: Aachen was the residence of [[Charlemagne]]. Construction of the Palace (in the location of the modern [[Aachen Rathaus|Rathaus]] and Aachen Cathedral) on the site of a Roman bath. The Octagon was built with columns and marble from ancient buildings of [[Rome]], [[Ravenna]], [[Trier]] & [[Cologne]]). The exterior was covered with red plaster. This central core was begun in 793 at the earliest and finished by 813 at the latest. This dating was reached in 2009 by means of [[dendrochronology]] on wood in the structure, which was found during repairs to the Cathedral.<ref>[http://www.an-online.de/sixcms/detail.php?template=an_detail&id=925356&_wo=Nachrichten:Topnachrichten ''Bewiesen: Aachener Dom 1200 Jahre alt.''] In: ''Aachener Nachrichten.'' 4. Juni 2009. accessed on 4 January 2010 (German).</ref> |
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* 805: Consecration by [[Pope Leo III]] |
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* 814: Funeral of Charlemagne in the Palatine chapel, exact location unknown. |
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* 936: Coronation of [[Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto I]] in the Palatine Chapel. |
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* 997: [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] ordered the walls of the Palatine chapel painted. |
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* 1002: [[Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor|Otto III]] buried in the Octagon. |
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* 1002-1014: [[Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor|Henry II]] donates the [[Ambon of Henry II]]. |
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* 1152-1190: [[Frederick I, Holy Roman Emperor|Frederick I]] donates the [[Barbarossa chandelier]]. |
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* 1187–1193: Erection of the romanesque cloister, expansion of the Octagon around the [[blind arcade]]. |
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* c.1240/1250: Erection of the gable of the Octagon, collapse of the window in the west niche, the building received a white replacement (perhaps earlier, in 1187-1193), the gable was painted colorfully. |
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* c.1350: Addition of the west towen, in the Gothic style, with a tall pyramidal roof spire and two flanking towers, bridge to the Octagon for the display of relics. |
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* 1367: Gothic predecessor to the modern Chapel of Hungary. |
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* 1355–1414: Erection of the choir, simultaneous with the erection of the Chapel of St Matthew, whose date of consecration is not preserved (possible dates range between 1379 (completion of the foundations) and 1420). |
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* c.1420: Statues on pillars in the choir made from [[Baumberg limestone]]. |
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* 1429: Double door of the narthex (broken 1811, remains in the Cathedral court, on the south wall with gothic graffiti in red chalk). |
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* 1449: Chapel of St Anne added, initially as an open hall on the lower floor, rebuilt in the baroque style in 1772, renewed in 1862 with gothic masonry. |
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* 1456–1474: The two-level Chapel of St Charles and St Hubert. |
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* before 1487: Chapel of St Nicholas. Further gothic chapel buildings were planned, but were never built. |
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* 1656: Fire of Aachen, extensive destruction to the city. The Cathedral's entire roof was destroyed. |
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* 1664: New roof on the Octagon and Choir. Octagon reaches modern form ("[[Lemon squeezer]]"). |
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* 1719–1733: Baroquification with the application of stucco to the inner rooms by Johann Baptist Atari, painting of the vault, baroque reworking of the main window, expansion of the choir window [[tracery]]. |
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* 1748-1767: Construction of the Chapel of Hungary, |
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** 1755: Destruction of the shell of the previous chapel by [[Johann Joseph Couven]] due to structural defects. |
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** 1756-1767: Construction of new building according to the plans of [[Joseph Moretti]]. |
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* 1788: Entrance porch in front of the west facade, resulting in the internalisation of the Carolingian bronze door (Wolfstür) |
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* 1794: Occupation of the city by [[War of the First Coalition|French revolutionary troops]], removal of the columns to [[Paris]] (some of which are still in the [[Louvre]]), dismantling of the lead roof (replaced with slate in 1803), temporary use of the Cathedral as a stable. |
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* 1814: Aachen becomes part of [[Kingdom of Prussia]]. |
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* 1832: Beginning of restoration works. |
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* 1843: Reinstallation of some of the columns (28 pieces returned from France) in the Octagon, several columns replaced with new ones, the old bronze bases replaced with marble, almost all of the ten capitals returned from France replaced in marble. |
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* 1847: Foundation of the ''Karlsverein'' (Charlemagne Society). |
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* 1849–1861: Repair of the choir and its fittings, restoration of the [[tracery]] at the instigation of the glassworker with five webs (the gothic tracery has six webs), |
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* 1857–1862: Restoration of the Chapel of St Anne. |
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* 1864–1866: Restoration of the Chapel of St Matthew. |
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* 1868: Restoration of the Chapel of St Charles & St Hubert. |
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* 1866-1873: Statues added to the Chapel of St Matthew in [[Uldfangen]] limestone and to the Chapel of St Charles & St Hubert, Chapel of St Anne & the choir in [[Savonnières]] limestone by [[Gottfried Götting]] |
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* 1869–1873: Removal of baroque decoration and exterior plaster, producing the modern bare stone. By 1871, the complete renovation of the [[Hohenstaufen|Staufen]] gable, Medieval material being retained only in the roof of the choir. |
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* 1879–1884: [[Gothic Revival architecture|Neogothic]] addition to the west tower, in pursuit of the tower's gothic form. |
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* 1879–1881: Decoration of the cupola with mosaic, according to the plans of the Belgian Béthune, carried out by the Venetian mosaicist Antonio Salviatis. |
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* 1896–1902: Marble cladding and mosaic decoration of the passages according to the plans of [[Hermann Schaper]] of [[Hannover]], carried out by [[Puhl & Wagner]] of Rixdorf (Berlin). |
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* 1913: Marble floors in the Octagon and the passages. |
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* 1949–1951: Restoration of the choir windows which had been destroyed in the [[Second World War]], by [[Walter Benner]] and [[Anton Wendling]]. |
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* 1986-2011: Massive programme of restorations to Aachen Cathedral. Exterior renovations were completed in 2006, interior & basement renovations were completed in 2011, with the cleaning and conservation of the mosaics in the Octagon. According to the Cathedral's architect, Maintz, around €35 million were spent in the course of the programme. |
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== Miscellaneous == |
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[[File:AC Dom Seismometer.jpg|thumb|150px|Seismometer of the seismological station in Aachen Cathedral]] |
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The ''Domwache'' (Cathedral watch), a youth self-help group, has been operated since 1957 by the Catholic students association of [[K.D.St.V. Franconia Aachen]]. |
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Since 15 November 2012 the [[Geological Service of North Rhine-Westphalia]] has operated a seismological station for monitoring seismic activity in the Lower Rhine Basin, which is in the foundations of the hexadecagon near the entry to the Chapel of St Anne.<ref>[http://www.aachener-nachrichten.de/lokales/aachen-detail-an/2906969?_link=&skip=&_g=Wenn-die-Erde-wackelt-Neue-Messstation-unter-Aachener-Dom.html Neue Messstation unter dem Aachener Dom], ''Aachener Nachrichten Online'', accessed 15 November 2012 (German).</ref> |
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Act III of [[Giuseppe Verdi|Giuseppe Verdi's]] ''[[Ernani]]'' is set in the tomb of Charlemagne. |
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== Gallery == |
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<gallery perrow="5"> |
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image:AachenCathedral_hb.JPG|Cathedral exterior |
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image:Aachen Cathedral Octagon1.jpg|Mosaics |
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image:Aachen Cathedral Octagon2.jpg|Mosaics |
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image:Königsthron Aachener Dom.jpg|Throne of [[Charlemagne]] |
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image:Aachen cathedral 007.JPG|[[Shrine]] of the [[Virgin Mary]] (1238) |
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image:Sarg Karl.jpg|Shrine of Charlemagne (1215) |
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image:Aachen Domschatz Bueste1.jpg|Reliquary bust of [[Charlemagne]] (treasury) |
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image:Lotharkreuz, Kaiserseite, Aachener Dom, Juni 2008.jpg|[[Cross of Lothair]] (~ 1000) (treasury) |
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</gallery> |
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== Bibliography == |
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* [[Franz Johann Joseph Bock|Franz Borck]]: ''Das Heiligthum zu Aachen. Kurzgefaßte Angabe und Abbildung sämtlicher „großen und kleinen Reliquien“ des ehemaligen Krönungs-Münsters, sowie der vorzüglichsten Kunstschätze daselbst''. Köln, Neuß 1867. |
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* [[Leo Hugot]]: ''Der Westbau des Aachener Domes.'' In: ''[[Museumsverein Aachen#Aachener Kunstblätter|Aachener Kunstblätter]].'' 24/25 (1962/63), pp. 108–126. |
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* Wolfgang Braunfels: ''Die Welt der Karolinger und ihre Kunst.'' München 1968. (ab 1984: ISBN 3-7667-0012-X) |
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* Ludwig Falkenstein: ''Karl der Große und die Entstehung des Aachener Marienstiftes.'' Paderborn 1981, ISBN 3-506-73253-6. |
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* Hans Belting: ''Das Aachener Münster im 19. Jahrhundert. Zur ersten Krise des Denkmal-Konzeptes.'' In: ''Wallraf-Richartz-Jahrbuch.'' Bd. 45, 1984, pp. 257–290. |
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* Herta Lepie (Text); Ann Münchow (Foto): ''Die Domschatzkammer zu Aachen.'' Aachen 1986. |
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* Leo Hugot: ''Der Dom zu Aachen. Ein Wegweiser.'' Aachen 1986, ISBN 3-920284-23-2. |
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* Ernst Günther Grimme: ''Der Dom zu Aachen. Architektur und Ausstattung.'' Einhard-Verlag, Aachen 1994, ISBN 3-920284-87-9. |
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* Herta Lepie, Georg Minkenberg: ''Die Schatzkammer des Aachener Domes''. Aachen 1995, ISBN 3-923773-16-1. |
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* Georg Minkenberg: ''Führer durch den Dom zu Aachen. In memoriam [[Erich Stephany]].'' Aachen 1995, ISBN 3-9804836-0-6. |
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* Günther Binding: ''Deutsche Königspfalzen von Karl dem Großen bis Friedrich II. (765–1240)''. Wiss. Buchgesellschaft, Darmstadt 1996, ISBN 3-89678-016-6. |
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* P. J. Wynands: ''Der Dom zu Aachen. Ein Rundgang.'' Insel-Verlag, Frankfurt am Main / Leipzig 2000 ([[Insel-Bücherei]] 1205), ISBN 3-458-19205-0. |
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* Walter Maas, Pit Siebigs: ''Der Aachener Dom.'' Köln 2001, ISBN 3-7743-0325-8. |
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* Ernst Günther Grimme: ''Der goldene Dom der Ottonen''. Einhard-Verlag, Aachen 2001, ISBN 3-930701-90-1. |
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* Gisbert Knopp, Ulrike Heckner: ''Die gotische Chorhalle des Aachener Doms. Baugeschichte - Bauforschung -Sanierung''. Petersberg, 2002, ISBN 3-935590-38-5. |
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* Hans-Karl Siebigs: ''Der Zentralbau des Domes zu Aachen: Unerforschtes und Ungewisses''. Worms 2004, ISBN 3-88462-195-5. |
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* Andreas Herrmann (Fotos), Anne Heermann (Text): ''Der Aachener Dom. Bilder Pictures Images'', Einhard, Aachen 2009, ISBN 978-3-936342-765. |
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* Manfred Groten, Georg Mölich (Hrsg.), Gisela Muschiol (Hrsg.), Joachim Oepen (Hrsg.), Wolfgang Rosen (Redaktion): ''Nordrheinisches Klosterbuch - Lexikon der Stifte und Klöster bis 1815.'' Teil 1: ''Aachen bis Düren''. Verlag Franz Schmitt, Siegburg 2009, ISBN 978-3-87710-453-8. (Ausschnitt zum Marienstift von Peter Offergeld: [http://www.klosterbuch.uni-bonn.de/Beispieltexte/index.htm online] (PDF)). |
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* Hans Jürgen Roth: ''Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst'', Thouet, Aachen 2011. |
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* Helmut Maintz: ''Sanierung Mosaiken, Marmorverkleidung und Fußböden im Zentralbau des Aachener Doms''. Schriftenreihe Karlsverein-Dombauverein, Heft 14, Thouet, Aachen 2012. |
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* Walter Maas, Pit Siebigs: ''Der Aachener Dom.'' Schnell & Steiner, Regensburg 2012, ISBN 978-3-7954-2445-9. |
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* Andrea Pufke u. a. (Hrsg.): ''Die karolingische Pfalzkapelle in Aachen. Material - Bautechnik - Restaurierung.'' Wernersche Verlagsgesellschaft, Worms 2012, ISBN 978-3-88462-325-1. |
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== References == |
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<references/>{{clear}} |
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== External links == |
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{{Commonscat-inline}} |
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*[http://www.aachendom.de Official Website] |
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*[http://www.aachener-dommusik.de Cathedral Music] |
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*[http://www.go-2-nice-places.com/2014/05/aachen-cathedral.html Aachen Cathedral Photos] |
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{{World Heritage Sites in Germany}} |
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{{Authority control|VIAF=130198000|LCCN=n/81/107086|GND=4126584-1|SUDOC=027486567}} |
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[[Category:Aachen Cathedral| ]] |
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[[Category:Imperial cathedrals]] |
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[[Category:Roman Catholic cathedrals in Germany]] |
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[[Category:Coronation church buildings]] |
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[[Category:9th-century church buildings]] |
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[[Category:800s architecture]] |
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[[Category:Buildings and structures in Aachen]] |
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[[Category:Churches in North Rhine-Westphalia]] |
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[[Category:World Heritage Sites in Germany]] |
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[[Category:Landmarks in Germany]] |
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Revision as of 04:31, 31 January 2015
 | You can help expand this article with text translated from the corresponding article in German. (September 2014) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
|
| Aachen Cathedral Aachener Dom | |
|---|---|
 The Cathedral in 2014. | |
| Religion | |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Province | Diocese of Aachen |
| Location | |
| Location | Aachen, Germany |
| Geographic coordinates | 50°46′29.1″N 6°5′2.12″E / 50.774750°N 6.0839222°E |
| Architecture | |
| Type | Church |
| Style | Carolingian, Gothic |
| Groundbreaking | 796 |
| Official name: Aachen Cathedral | |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | i, ii, iv, vi |
| Designated | 1978 (2nd session) |
| Reference no. | 3 |
| State Party | Germany |
| Region | Europe and North America |
Aachen Cathedral, frequently referred to as the "Imperial Cathedral" (in German: Kaiserdom), is a Roman Catholic church in Aachen, Germany. The church is the oldest cathedral in northern Europe and was known as the "Royal Church of St. Mary at Aachen" during the Middle Ages. For 595 years, from 936 to 1531, the Aachen chapel was the church of coronation for 30 German kings and 12 queens. The church is the episcopal seat of the Diocese of Aachen.
Structure
Charles the Great (Charlemagne) began the construction of the Palatine Chapel around 796,[1] along with the building of the rest of the palace structures.[2] The construction is credited to Odo of Metz. It suffered a large amount of damage around 881, by the Northmen and was restored in 983. In the 14th and 15th centuries, Gothic additions were added,[1] including the choir in 1355.[3] It was restored again in 1881.[4] The core of the cathedral is the Carolingian Palatine Chapel, which is notably small in comparison to the later additions.
In order to sustain the enormous flow of pilgrims in the Gothic period a choir hall was built: a two-part Capella vitrea (glass chapel) which was consecrated on the 600th anniversary of Charlemagne's death. A cupola, several other chapels and a steeple were also constructed at later dates. In 1978, it was one of the first 12 items to make the entry into the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, as the first German and one of the first three European historical ensembles.
The cathedral uses two distinct architectural styles. First, the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne, modeled after San Vitale at Ravenna and considered to be Carolingian-Romanesque. Secondly, the choir in the Gothic style.[3]
Westwork
The westwork (western facade) of the cathedral is of Carolingian origin, flanked by two stair-towers. It is a two-story building, completed by a porch from the 18th century at the west end.
The bronze leaves attached to this porch, the Wolfstür (Wolf's Door), weigh 43 hundredweight altogether (cf. with this the Lousberg saga). The main entrance to the cathedral, the door was cast in Aachen around 800 and was located between the westwork and the octagon in the so-called hexadecagon up to 1788. The portal was restored in 1924.[5] Each leaf is divided into eight rectangles – a number which had religious symbolism in Christianity, as a symbol of Sunday, the day of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ and also of perfection (as did twelve, also) and can be found in the measurements of the Palatine Chapel over and over again. These boxes were framed by decorative strips, which are made of egg-shaped decorations. The egg was considered a symbol of life and fertility from antiquity. In Christian belief it was imbued with the even wider symbolism of Eternal Life. The door-rings in the shape of lions' heads are wreathed by 24 (i.e. two times twelve or three times eight) acanthus scrolls – again to be understood at the deepest level through numerology. The Wolfstür's imitation of the shape of the ancient Roman temple door signifies Charlemagne's claim, to have established a New Rome in Aachen with the Palatine Chapel as the distinctive monumental building.[6]
In the forehall, there is a bronze sculpture of a bear, which was probably made in the 10th century, i.e. in Ottonian times.[7] Opposite it is a bronze pine cone with 129 perforated scales, which stands 91 cm high (including its base); its date is controversial and ranges from the 3rd to the 10th century. Its base is clearly Ottonian and includes an inscription written in Leonine hexameter, which refers to the Tigris and Euphrates rivers of Mesopotamia. According to one view, the pine cone would originally have served as a waterspout on a fountain and would been placed in the atrium of the Palatine chapel in Carolingian times.<ref>[http://www.inschriften.net/aachen-dom/inschrift/nr/di031
- ^ a b Bayer, Patricia, ed. (2000). "A". Encyclopedia Americana. Vol. I A-Anjou (First ed.). Danbury, CT: Grolier Incorporated. p. 1. ISBN 0-7172-0133-3.
- ^ Kenneth J. Conant, Carolingian and Romanesque Architecture, 4th ed. (New Haven, 1994), p. 47).
- ^ a b "Aachen". Encyclopedia Britannica. Vol. I: A-Ak - Bayes (15th ed.). Chicago, IL: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc. 2010. pp. 1–2. ISBN 978-1-59339-837-8.
- ^ Jay Jacobs, The Encyclopedia of World Art, 1st ed. (London, 1975), p. 9).
- ^ Hans Jürgen Roth: Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst, Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 7.
- ^ Vgl. Hans Jürgen Roth: Ein Abbild des Himmels. Der Aachener Dom - Liturgie, Bibel, Kunst, Thouet, Aachen 2011, p. 8.
- ^ Ernst Künzl: Die antike Bärin im Dom zu Aachen. Reprint from the Jahrbuch des Römisch-Germanischen Zentralmuseums 49, 2002, ISBN 978-3-88467-083-5.