The Irmin Column in the Cathedral of Hildesheimdetails

The Irmin Column in the Cathedral of Hildesheim

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Which is, in English, The Irmin Column in the Cathedral of Hildesheim, here decorated for Christmas. The column has candles surrounding a figure (Mary) with a halo, and is about 5 metres or 15 feet high.

The Irminsul is said by some to have been a Saxon non-Christian pillar representing “the upholding of all things” or the World Axis. The one in this engraving may be one that Charlamagne had destroyed in the 8th century and replaced with a church; it was dug up again in the 9th century in Obermasrberg, Westphalia, Germany, and placed in Hildesheim cathedral, with candles fastened to the top as shown here.

The column itself was made from calcium deposits collected from the remains of the Roman Eifel Aqueduct in Cologne. The crown at the top probably held a candle originally, but that was replaced in 1651 by a wooden carving of Mary and the Child.

In 1741 the woodwn Mary was upgraded to a silver one, and that is probably what is depicted here. In the Twentieth Century (or later) the silver figure of Mary was cast down and replaced with a cross.

More information

The picture here is signed by the artist, William Pape.

christmas, xmas, pillars, columns, priests, men, people, costumes, candles, candelabra, candlesticks, statuary, religion

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