Description of the Luther Memorial in Worms

Ground plan and explanations

The memorial rises on a public green space on Lutherring on a stepped granite base with a side length of 12.55 m (41.2 ft). Syenite pedestals bear bronze figures, reliefs and coats of arms. The numbers and letters in brackets refer to the ground plan of the Luther memorial (see image on the left).

outer circle [6—12 / E—K]

A crenelated wall embraces on three sides the figures of the inner circle. The following figures stand on the pedestals in the wall:

Frederick the Wise, elector of Saxony [6]
Sovereign and protector of Luther. When he was prompted to have himself elected emperor in 1519, he rejected, which is symbolised by the crown lying by his feet.

Philip I (‘the Magnanimous’), Landgrave of Hesse [12]
Champion of the Reformation and one of the leaders of the Schmalkaldic League, an alliance formed by Protestant rulers.

Johannes Reuchlin [8]
Professor in Ingolstadt. A humanist and an authority on ancient languages, he vigorously opposed the abuses and injustice of his time. However, he rejected to have contact with Luther.

Philipp Melanchton [10]
Great-nephew of Johannes Reuchlin. Professor in Wittenberg, humanist and theologian, associate and friend of Luther.

Augsburg with the palm of peace [7]
On 25 June 1530, the Lutherans promulgated their confession to Emperor Charles V in Augsburg. The Peace of Augsburg of 1555 laid down the rules for the spiritual and political coexistence of the confessions.

Speyer Protesting [9]
On the 1529 Diet of Speyer, a rump Imperial assembly suspended an earlier decision to make concessions to the Reformers. The evangelical princes protested against this suspension, winning them the name ‘Protestants’.

Magdeburg mourning [11]
In the Thirty Years’ War, Magdeburg was looted and completely devastated by the commander of the Imperial forces, the Count of Tilly, in 1631.

The merlons bear the coats of arms of 27 cities that supported the Reformation:

[E] Brunswick, Bremen, Konstanz, Eisenach, Augsburg [7]

[F] Eisleben, Emden, Erfurt, Frankfurt on the Main

[G] Schwäbisch Hall, Hamburg, Heilbronn, Jena, Speyer [9]

[H] Königsberg, Leipzig, Lindau, Lübeck

[J] Marburg, Memmingen, Nördlingen, Riga, Magdeburg [11]

[K] Schmalkalden, Straßburg, Ulm, Wittenberg

inner circle [2—5, A—D]

The main pedestal bears the following figures:

Dr Martin Luther [1]
The Reformer, depicted in his pulpit robe and bareheaded, holds in his left hand the Bible, on which his right fist rests. The 3.5m (11.5ft) statue is the central figure of the monument.

Seated around him are:

The Frenchman Peter Waldo [2]
Founder of the Waldenses, a 12th century religious movement devoted to poverty and simplicity.

The Englishman John Wyclif [3]
Sought to reform the Church in the 14th century. One of the intellectual forerunners of the Reformation (theology of grace, translation of the Bible).

The Czech Jan Hus [4]
Follower of Wyclif, burnt at the stake after being sentenced on the Council of Constance for spreading heretical ideas about the sacraments.

The Italian Girolamo Savonarola [5]
Prior of San Marco convent in Florence. Criticised the secularised papacy and burnt at the stake in 1498 as a heretic.

lower block (main pedestal)

The main pedestal consists of two blocks, the lower one showing scenes from Luther’s life:

[A] Luther at the Diet of Worms before Emperor Charles V,
     17/18 April 1521

[C] (disputed) fastening of the Ninety-Five Theses to the
      doors Castle Church in Wittenberg, 31 October 1517

[B] Luther gives the Communion under both species; Luther is
      married to Katharina von Bora by Johannes Bugenhagen
      (rejection of celibacy)

[D] Luther translating the Bible and preaching

 

Below these scenes are the coats of arms of the signees of the Augsburg Confession of 1530.

[A] Electorate of Saxony

[B] Anhalt and Brandenburg

[C] Nuremberg and Reutlingen

[D] Hesse and Brunswick-Lüneburg

 

Below these bas-reliefs an inscription runs around the lower part of the block reading:

‘Begun in 1856, completed in 1868. Designed and partly carried out by E Rietschel. Cast and chased in Lauchenhammer. Architectural plans drawn by H Nicolai.’

 

upper block (main pedestal)

The upper block bears portraits of contemporaries of Luther and sayings by them:

[A]
Luther’s legendary closing words in Worms, 1521: ‘Here I stand, I can do no other. God help me. Amen.’ Below the portraits of Saxon electors: John the Steadfast and John the Magnanimous.

[B]
‘Faith is nothing but the true and real life in God himself. — To rightly understand the Bible demands the spirit of Christ.’ Below, associates of Luther, Justus Jonas and Johann Bugenhagen.

[C]
‘The Gospel, which the Lord put into the Apostles’ mouth, is his sword, and he strikes the world with it much as thunder and lightning.’ Below the portraits of two knights, the humanist Ulrich von Hutten, and the mercenary army leader Franz von Sickingen.

[D]
‘No human law will be able to capture those who understand Christ. — They are free, not their flesh, but their conscience.’ Below the Swiss Reformers, John Calvin and Huldrych Zwingli.

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Artists

Works were carried out by the following artists:

Ernst Rietschel

(Luther and Wyclif)

Adolf von Donndorf

(Savonarola, Frederick the Wise, Reuchlin, Peter Waldo, Magdeburg, 4 portraits and 2 bas-reliefs)

Gustav Kietz

(Hus, Philip the Magnanimous, Melanchton, Augsburg, 4 portraits and 2 bas-reliefs)

Johannes Schilling

(Speyer)

L Stahlmann and K Wölfel, Bayreuth

(granite works)

Dean Keim, Dr Eich and Rietschel, who rendered outstanding services in the erection of the monument, are portrayed in the right-hand corner of the relief depicting the Diet of Worms [A].

source

brochure 'Lutherdenkmal zu Worms' by Fritz Reuter