Barbarossa chandelier

The Barbarossa chandelier is a chandelier, on behalf of the Emperor Frederick I Barbarossa, and his wife Beatrix under the domed roof of the Palatine Chapel of Charlemagne, Aachen Cathedral of today, was made ​​about the period 1165-1170 and appropriate. The chandelier was a foundation in honor of the Virgin Mary, the patron saint of the Aachen Cathedral, and presented at the same time a tribute to its founder, Karl dar.

Shaping

The Barbarossa chandelier was made ​​of gilded copper and has a diameter of 4.20 meters. He is at an approximately 27 -meter-long chain centered under the umbrella of the Palatine Chapel, the Carolingian octagon attached. When the chain is the original chain from the Carolingian period, the chain links are not, contrary to multiple rumors, downward taper. The chandelier hanging about four feet above the marble floor is composed of eight circular segments and adapted to the octagonal shape of the Palatine Chapel. The rim of the chandelier symbolizes the city walls of the heavenly Jerusalem. This stylized city wall contains eight large and eight small tower-like lanterns, which are arranged symmetrically and the city gates symbolize. Because of the octagonal structure of the surrounding structure was avoided to provide the candlesticks with only eight instead of twelve lantern towers - as it would have corresponded to the traditional representation of the heavenly Jerusalem.

The chandelier holds a total of 48 candles are still lit on festive occasions.

Originally introduced in the 16 towers silver figures, saints, angels, and gatekeepers represented, have been lost. Have been preserved, the bottom plates of the towers on which - visible from below - Scenes from the life of Jesus, especially the eight eulogies from the Sermon on the Mount, are shown as masterfully executed engravings.

A device fitted on the chandelier Latin inscription reads in translation:

The Barbarossa chandelier is one of only four remaining received in Germany Romanesque Radleuchtern; the others are: the Azelinleuchter and Heziloleuchter from the Hildesheim Cathedral and the Hartwigleucher in Comburg monastery church.