Pala d’oro, Medieval gold altar decoration in Aachen Cathedral, Germany
The Pala d'oro comprises seventeen relief plates fashioned from pure gold, depicting religious figures and biblical narratives with meticulous detail. Each plate features intricately crafted scenes that combine figurative and narrative elements in fine metalwork.
The piece was created in the first half of the eleventh century as a donation from the Saxon imperial house during the Ottonian period. This gift reflects the cathedral's prominent role in the empire at that time.
The central composition shows Christ flanked by Mary and the Archangel Michael, with evangelist symbols and scenes from the Passion story arranged in a formal pattern. This sacred layout guides the viewer's eye through the theological narrative displayed in gold.
The work is displayed at the main altar within the Gothic choir section of the cathedral and is viewable during regular visiting hours. Visitors should allow time to examine the fine details and composition of each plate closely.
The gold exhibits an exceptional purity of nearly 99.99 percent, ranking it among the finest examples of medieval metalwork ever created. This extreme refinement required significant skill and resources to achieve.
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