Bernward Column, Bronze column in Hildesheim Cathedral, Germany
The Bernward Column is a bronze column in Hildesheim Cathedral standing about 3.8 meters tall. It is covered with 28 relief scenes arranged in a spiral pattern that depict events from Jesus's life.
Bishop Bernward commissioned this bronze column around 1020 for St. Michael's Church, drawing inspiration from Roman imperial columns like Trajan's Column. The column was relocated several times over centuries and now rests in Hildesheim Cathedral.
The column displays scenes from Jesus's life that visitors can trace in the bronze reliefs today. These biblical stories like the Baptism, the Wedding at Cana, and the Entry into Jerusalem were meant to teach and move people through visual narrative.
The column is displayed inside Hildesheim Cathedral and can be viewed during a visit. The relief details are best appreciated by walking slowly around the base and looking upward to trace the spiral scenes.
Inside the column runs a steel pole with screw connections that function like a human spine to stabilize the structure. This hidden technical system was engineered nearly a thousand years ago and allowed the tall bronze work to remain stable.
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