Illustrated – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors

Posted bySuzette BenjaminPosted inPoetryTags:
Freiburg Minster Cathedral, Germany, Image credit: © Marina Lohrbach | iStock

a city’s portals—

an illustrated forest

by living water

*

418 stone statues of various sizes flank the **main entrance of Freiburg Minster Cathedral, Breisgau, Germany, whose imposing 116-meter (381-foot) limestone tower dominates the skyline of Freiburg— a city often regarded as the gateway to the legendary Black Forest, famously tied to the illustrated tales of the Brothers Grimm.

This ‘forest’ of stone sculptures, some in color above the doors in the tympanum, recounts biblical stories starting from the bottom right with the birth of Jesus to the Last Judgement at the top.

At the center of the wooden doors, on the middle doorway column (mullion), stands a statue of Mary, the mother of Jesus. An image is below:

Main portal of Freiburg Minster in Freiburg Breisgau, Germany. Image credit: © Klug-photo | iStock

Trivia #1: For over 800 years, since Freiburg Minster Cathedral’s construction began in 1200 and through its completion in 1536, the Cathedral Workshop has been responsible for the locally-funded upkeep of Freiburg Minster Cathedral. This team of master stonemasons, master sculptors, and master builders has ensured the cathedral’s preservation and continued impeccable visual splendor to this day.

Trivia #2: Freiburg is renowned as the birthplace of the fifth-oldest university in Germany, the Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg. Many intellectuals, including philosopher Martin Heidegger, scientists, Nobel laureates, and other notable figures, were born in Freiburg.

*Barney Dreyfuss, owner of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1900–1932 and credited with creating the modern World Series of Baseball, was also born in Freiburg, Germany.

Fun Fact: Freiburg is home to a unique network of small streams known as “Bächle,” created in medieval times by diverting water from the Dreisam River in channels running downhill through the city streets.

Originally intended to provide a steady stream of clean water to the local populace and to aid in fire prevention, the streams still flow downhill along the city streets, adjacent to the sidewalks, today. This distinctive feature earns Freiburg the nickname “Little Venice.”

Freiburg Minster Cathedral, Germany on an autumn day. Germany’s legendary Black Forest in the distance. Image credit: © Wirestock | iStock

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Published by Suzette Benjamin

Positive thinker, inspirational, writer, faith

50 thoughts on “Illustrated – Haiku 2024 #ThursdayDoors”

  1. A great and clever haiku. The doorway is enormous, with the person for scale, and what a stunning main portal. The little streams through the town sound amazing, although something of a flood risk in these days of climate change I would have thought.

    Liked by 3 people

    1. Thank you for your generous comment, Scooj. The doorway is huge indeed, wow!
      I agree about the litt;e streams in the streets, it would be a concern; but it seems from what I read that it is super popular among the locals. I hope all goes well in these times for this tradition.

      Liked by 2 people

  5. Clever haiku.
    Freiburg was on our list when we visited Germany five years ago but we didn’t get there. Thank you for giving me an excellent reason to say, ‘Let’s go back …’.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Oh that is wonderful to hear. I do a bit of research and share what I find/like for thursdaydoors. I have never been to Friedburg either. Sounds and looks like a wonderful place with lots of things to experience. Hope you get the chance to visit there, DD.

      Like

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  8. You had me wondering from the haiku where this post was going, and what I was going to learn. You did not disappoint, Suzette. And – BONUS – I learned something about my hometown team. I didn’t know Barney Dreyfuss was born in Germany. Thanks for another special Thursday Doors post. I hope you have a great weekend.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I am glad that the haiku peaked interest Dan…that is always my plan…albeit, I am not always successful..LOL.
      The list of luminaries from Freiburg is very long. I selected ones that I hoped may connect or be of interest.
      Thank you for your support and work on ThursdayDoors, Dan. Much appreciated,
      And I hope your weekend goes well in every way as well.

      Liked by 1 person

  11. 🚰Freiburg is home to a unique network of small streams known as “Bächle,” created in medieval times by diverting water from the Dreisam River in channels running downhill through the city streets.Originally intended to provide a steady stream of clean water to the local populace and to aid in fire prevention, the streams still flow downhill along the city streets, adjacent to the sidewalks, today. This distinctive feature earns Freiburg the nickname “Little Venice.”🚰

    Breathtaking fun fact. I’m always captured how towns and city were planned around such an important feature such as water.

    majestic portal with its illustrated stone forest. Also a brilliant idea to connect the cathedral to nature

    Nature and architecture. Art and culture. Dynamic energy

    Blessed Thursday offering

    Wishing you a beautiful day

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Yes, it is amazing how water has influenced the rhythm of city building and community life from the very beginning (I think).
      It is humbling to think how that one source of water can impact so much of life.

      Thank you for noting the mini Vesper moment presented as a haiku alluding to the forest (of all kinds) in structure and thought/prayer.

      And a blessed Thursday to you also. May peace abound within.

      Liked by 1 person

  12. Your Vesper – man and nature – is absolutely captivating Poet and I am always enthralled that water remains a central theme in the construction of these holy places. The presence of water – clear, clean and living – is always humbling.
    Thank you for unlocking this wonderful Thursday portal story.
    Thank you, and always look to Peace.

    Liked by 1 person

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  20. The main portal is so sumptuous… like it is a transport to another world… and in a way, it is! And how amazing that they were able to capture the alpha to the omega (so to speak!) on the cathedral walls. It is so fascinating to me how paramount the physical cathedral was itself in educating the people during the medieval times.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Absolutely, the physical cathedral was an important ‘illustrated text’ as it were in stone or brick. Great point. And I love your descriptor “sumptuous” otherworldly – Perfect. Glad you enjoyed the share. Blessings to you.

      Liked by 1 person

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