Architects – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetry, Thursday Doors
Main Entrance doors: Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Westfalia, Germany. Image credit: © Offscreen | Dreamstime

blueprints open doors

the who’s who of the Testaments

carved architects

~~~~

With an average of 20,000 visitors flocking to its grounds each day, and standing monumental at a towering 157 meters (515 feet), boasting twin spires that defy the very skies is Cologne Cathedral, Cologne Westfalia.

Its foundation was laid on Saturday, 15 August 1248. On 14 August 1880, a staggering 632 years less one day, later, Cologne Cathedral was completed.

The stone sculptures on either side of the doors (called door jams) are from the left side: Adam, Noah, Moses, David, Elijah, Joachim, the husband of Saint Anne and the father of Mary, the mother of Jesus, and St. John the Baptist. And on the right side of the doors, the stone sculptures are St. Joseph, St. Anne, mother of the Virgin Mary, Elisha, King Solomon, Samuel, Abraham, and Eve.

Closeup detail of the doors below:

Image credit: © Gerrit Jan (gj) | Dreamstime

Door handle and door knocker closeup below:

Door handle and lion head door knocker, Main entrance, Cologne Cathedral. Image credit: © Chris Dorney | Dreamstime

Trivia #1: Rumor has it that the delay in Cologne Cathedral’s completion was due in large part to the fact that the original blueprints were “lost” (read misplaced) for 400 years! Miraculously the original medieval plans were found in two parts.

One part of the original blueprint was discovered in an attic. And the other part was found in a bookstore in France. No time was wasted in resuming construction on the church that still holds the distinction as the largest facade in the world. (Image below)

Cologne Cathedral’s Opulent Rayonnant Gothic Main Facade with flying buttress. Image credit: © Industryandtravel | Dreamstime

Trivia #2: In 2006 the city of Cologne enacted height restrictions for new building construction with the goal to maintain Cologne Cathedral as the tallest edifice in the city, period. (An aerial view is below.)

Cologne Cathedral aerial view from across the Rhine River. Image credit: © Tomas1111 | Dreamstime

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And, for More

#ThursdayDoors visit Dan Antion – No Facilities

Teresa, My camera and I

Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

52 thoughts on “Architects – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors”

  2. Pingback: Architects – Haiku 2023 #ThursdayDoors | Ned Hamson's Second Line View of the News

  3. Wow! A stunning building and one I visited as young. That must be one of the longest builds in history and phew, lucky that the original plans were found, albeit it four hundred years later! It’s forward thinking that no other building will be allowed to dwarf this unique and beautiful cathedral! A lovely post, Suzette and one that has me wanting to head back to Cologne.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am delighted for you that this brought back good memories and a yearning to revisit Cologne. It is a building where the word “stunning” is absolutely a perfect fit, Annika.
      Hope you get a chance to revisit its splendor.
      I would love to visit too!!

      Liked by 1 person

  5. Just, WOW, Suzette! Over 600 years, missing blueprints, the “who’s who of the testaments”. You brought so much simple beauty into this amazing and historical chapel. I’d love to visit here and see it in person. I know I would be overwhelmed (I am just reading about it and seeing the pictures). Thank you for sharing! 🤍

    Liked by 1 person

  6. Beautiful. Mesmerising 😁
    The story of the blueprints is funny. Just as well someone at the bookstore realised what they had. I’m glad they were able to complete the cathedral

    Liked by 1 person

  7. Lovely haiku and a magnificent cathedral, Suzette. I wonder, if after 400 years, they altered any of the building techniques. I looked up the use of flying buttresses and found that they would have been in use throughout that period, so maybe the original plans could be followed. In any case, its a beautiful sight.

    Liked by 1 person

      1. Not nearly as easy to do in 1200 as it would be today. Can you imagine what they would say, knowing that we could take pictures with our phones and send them back to Cologne?

        Liked by 1 person

      2. Oh, I can imagine they would be stunned by modern tech. Goodness, if they did so spectacularly with what they had back in 1220,. I cannot fathom what they would accomplish today! Mind boggling what we have access to today.

        Liked by 1 person

  10. 632 years to complete! World’s largest facade! An amazing cathedral with stunning architecture. A nice share, Suzette with your beautiful haiku!

    Liked by 1 person

  12. ⛪️two huge towers that serve as the defining symbol of Cologne’s skyline.⛪️

    This is truly a sight to behold. And to think the city was developed and branch keeping these two signatures in mind. Nobody can just come and destroy that view with its majestic architecture as the political and economic language changed throughout the centuries. Today the church is a Unesco World Heritage Site.
    An amazing statistic; it prides itself of 20 thousand visitors per day so the economic life just keep on turning.

    ⛪️“lost” (read misplaced) for 400 years! Miraculously the original medieval plans were found in two parts.⛪️

    What a beautiful story

    ⛪️One part of the original blueprint was discovered in an attic. And the other part was found in a bookstore in France. No time was wasted in resuming construction on the church that still holds the distinction as the largest facade in the world⛪️

    How the pieces of the plans came together. Im sure there is a movie about the largest facade of any church in the world.

    Richly explored by the haiku.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. It is so spectacular, the word is not even grand enough (I think) to express just the photos of this cathedral. I cannot imagine if I were there in person one day… wow!

      An almost magical and miraculous find to come upon the two parts of the blueprints. An amazing fact indeed, a movie should be made of such stories.
      Glad you enjoyed the share.

      Bliss to you!

      Liked by 1 person

      1. I beautiful read Poet, and I’m in awe of the history that accompanied the construction of this masterpiece in architecture.

        Thank you, much bliss to you too.

        Liked by 1 person

    1. That’s great Janet! They are amazingly intricate for such practical items. Time was taken in crafting them both for their beauty and to weather well, many years of use. I am glad you like them. Have a good one.

      Liked by 1 person

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