Shrine of the Three Kings
This shrine is a large gilded and decorated triple sarcophagus situated above and behind the high altar of Cologne Cathedral in western Germany.
Built approximately from 1180 to 1225, it is considered the high point of Mosan art by various historians and scholars, and ranks amongst the largest reliquary in the Western world.
Adorned with intricate decorations, the shrine's surfaces narrate the stories of the three Magi, the Virgin Mary, and the life of Christ.
[7] Eight centuries later in 1164, Holy Roman Emperor Frederick Barbarossa took the relics of the Magi from the church of Saint Eustorgio in Milan and gave them to the Archbishop of Cologne, Rainald of Dassel,[8] who was also the imperial Archchancellor of Italy.
Other parts of the shrine were decorated during the time of Archbishop Philip von Hensberg with additional jewels and gold placed on it.
[1] Around 1199, King Otto IV gave three golden crowns, purported to be made for the three wise men, as a present to the cathedral of Cologne.
Because of the importance of the shrine and the cathedral for the later development of the city, the coat of arms of Cologne still shows these three crowns symbolizing the Three Kings.
Jūrgen Petersohn writes that King Otto IV wanted to be seen as having equal rank with the Three Magis, thus, he joins in on the Adoration of Christ.
[6] The shrine has been carefully preserved by an officiate or custodes regum that made it possible for the relics to remain in good condition for five hundred years.
[6] The stolen cameo, an Indian sardonyx with seventeen layers, eleven of which were used for engraving, was said to have two heads on it, and the measurement was about the size of a hand.
It was discovered to have been fractured during the times of the robbery, but it was repaired with an armored piece called a gorget, which was made of steel or leather, and a golden frame.
An eyewitness report reads: Note: "Just as the coin of Philipp in Hartzheim, historia rei nummariae coloniensis Table 3 No.
"[13]Images of the three Kings are located in the bottom middle of the sanctuary, offering gifts in this order according to the Gospel of Matthew: gold, frankincense, and myrrh, to Mary on the throne holding infant Jesus.
Balthasar, depicted as an old Middle Eastern or Black man with African features on the shrine, was the King of Arabia or sometimes Ethiopia; he is giving the gift of myrrh to the Christ Child.
Lastly, Caspar (or Gaspar) was the youngest of the three, and shown with a short beard on the shrine; he was given the gift of frankincense to give the Christ child.
The basic structure is made of wood, with gold and silver overlay decorated with filigree, enamel, and over 1,000 jewels and beads.
[6] The Ptolemy cameo, the angels, and the row of crowns in the spandrels have been cleared away; however, the figure of Otto IV remains unchanged except for his little gold box that he is holding.
The inscription reads along the inner band of the gable:[1] "ADVENIO DIGNOS SALVARE FERIRE MALIGNOS ERGO BONI METITE FELICIA GAVDIA VITE ITE REI VOS IRA DEI TRANSMITTIT IN IGNem QUISQue METIT QUOD ProMERVIT SUB IUDICE IVSTO.
