Aachen Cathedral
Detail: The Main Altar with its golden frontal („Pala d’Oro“) in front of the Gothic Choir and its Madonna Sculpture with radiant corona from the 16th century.
Pala d'Oro
A golden altarpiece, the Pala d'Oro which today forms the Antependium of the high altar was probably created around 1020 in Fulda. It consists of seventeen individual gold panels with reliefs in repoussé. In the centre, Christ is enthroned as Redeemer in a Mandorla, flanked by Mary and the Archangel Michael. Four round medallions with images of the Evangelists' symbols show the connection to the other twelve relief panels with depictions from the life of Jesus Christ. They begin with the entry into Jerusalem and end with the encounter of the women with the risen Christ in front of the open grave on Easter morning. The depictions are read from left to right, like a book.
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 Emperor Otto III. The other panels, together with the central group of Christ, Mary, and Michael, draws from Byzantine and late Carolingian predecessors and was likely first added under Otto's successor, Henry II, who also donated the Ambo of Henry II.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral
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Aachen, Kaiserdom, Choir Hall and Marienaltar - Cathedral, Gothic choir and Mary's altar
Today's Altar of Mary is the main altar of the cathedral. It consists of the marble slabs of the former Carolingian Marian altar and as an antependium it received the Pala d'oro set in a simple frame. It was probably built around 1020 in Fulda and consists of 17 relief panels made of embossed gold sheet. In the center, Christ is enthroned in the mandola, surrounded by Mary and the Archangel Michael.
In 1978, Aachen Cathedral was the first German monument to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The center of the church is the octagonal central building, the octagon, which with its 31 m height was the highest domed structure north of the Alps for around 400 years. The Byzantine palace churches served as a model. Valuable materials such as marble and ancient columns were brought in from Italy for the construction. In 814 Charlemagne was buried in his palatine chapel.
Aachen Cathedral
Detail: The Main Altar with its golden frontal („Pala d’Oro“) in front of the Gothic Choir and its Madonna Sculpture with radiant corona from the 16th century.
Pala d'Oro
A golden altarpiece, the Pala d'Oro which today forms the Antependium of the high altar was probably created around 1020 in Fulda. It consists of seventeen individual gold panels with reliefs in repoussé. In the centre, Christ is enthroned as Redeemer in a Mandorla, flanked by Mary and the Archangel Michael. Four round medallions with images of the Evangelists' symbols show the connection to the other twelve relief panels with depictions from the life of Jesus Christ. They begin with the entry into Jerusalem and end with the encounter of the women with the risen Christ in front of the open grave on Easter morning. The depictions are read from left to right, like a book.
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 Emperor Otto III. The other panels, together with the central group of Christ, Mary, and Michael, draws from Byzantine and late Carolingian predecessors and was likely first added under Otto's successor, Henry II, who also donated the Ambo of Henry II.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aachen_Cathedral
——————————————————————————————
Aachen, Kaiserdom, Choir Hall and Marienaltar - Cathedral, Gothic choir and Mary's altar
Today's Altar of Mary is the main altar of the cathedral. It consists of the marble slabs of the former Carolingian Marian altar and as an antependium it received the Pala d'oro set in a simple frame. It was probably built around 1020 in Fulda and consists of 17 relief panels made of embossed gold sheet. In the center, Christ is enthroned in the mandola, surrounded by Mary and the Archangel Michael.
In 1978, Aachen Cathedral was the first German monument to be included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The center of the church is the octagonal central building, the octagon, which with its 31 m height was the highest domed structure north of the Alps for around 400 years. The Byzantine palace churches served as a model. Valuable materials such as marble and ancient columns were brought in from Italy for the construction. In 814 Charlemagne was buried in his palatine chapel.