Barbarossa Chandelier facts for kids
The Barbarossa Chandelier (in German, Barbarossaleuchter) is a very old and beautiful light fixture. It was ordered by Emperor Frederick I, who was also known as Barbarossa, and his wife Beatrice. They had it made between 1165 and 1170.
This special chandelier was placed high up in the Palatine Chapel inside Aachen Cathedral. It was a gift to honor Mary, Mother of God, who is the patroness (a special protector) of Aachen Cathedral. It also honored Charlemagne, who built the cathedral a long time ago.
What it Looks Like
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The Barbarossa Chandelier is shaped like a giant wheel. It is made of copper covered in gold. The chandelier is about 4.20 meters (or 13.8 feet) wide. It hangs from a very long chain, about 27 meters (or 88.6 feet) long, from the middle of the chapel's dome. This part of the cathedral is called the Carolingian Octagon because it has eight sides.
The chandelier hangs about four meters (13 feet) above the marble floor. It has eight curved parts, which match the eight-sided shape of the chapel. The circle shape of the chandelier is meant to look like the city wall of the New Jerusalem, a holy city mentioned in the Bible.
The chandelier's "city wall" has eight large towers and eight smaller ones, placed evenly around it. Usually, the Heavenly Jerusalem is shown with twelve towers. But because the chapel has eight sides, the chandelier was designed to match that number.
In total, the chandelier holds 48 candles. These candles are still lit today for important events and celebrations.
Lost Decorations
The chandelier used to have silver figures on its 16 towers. These figures showed saints, angels, and guards. Sadly, these silver figures are now lost. However, the bottom parts of the towers are still there. If you look closely from below, you can see pictures carved into them. These carvings show scenes from the life of Jesus, especially the eight blessings from the Sermon of the Mount.
A Special Message
There is a message written in Latin on the chandelier. When translated into English, it says:
Frederick, Catholic Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, promised to take care that number and shape complement and harmonise with the dimensions of this lofty temple: this crown of light, a princely gift.
This message means that Emperor Frederick wanted the chandelier to fit perfectly with the size and shape of the grand chapel. He called it a "crown of light" and a "princely gift," showing how important and beautiful it was.
Other Chandeliers
The Barbarossa Chandelier is one of only four large Romanesque wheel chandeliers that still exist in Germany. The other three are the Azelin and Hezilo chandeliers at Hildesheim Cathedral, and the Hartwig chandelier in Comburg Abbey. These chandeliers are very rare and important pieces of art from a long time ago.
