Ambon of Henry II
The Ambon of Henry II (German: Ambo Heinrichs II.), commonly known as Henry's Ambon (Heinrichsambo) or Henry's Pulpit (Heinrichskanzel)[1] is an ambon in the shape of a pulpit built by Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor in the Palatine chapel in Aachen (now Aachen Cathedral) between 1002 and 1014. It is among the most significant artworks of the Ottonian period.
Originally, the Ambon probably stood on the central axis of the Octagon, in front of the high altar. After the expansion of the Choir was completed in 1414, the Ambon was moved to the south side of the first bay. The wooden staircase was built in 1782. The ambon underwent restoration work in 1816/7, 1924, and 1939.[2] The ambon remains in liturgical use on high feast days.
Theological and symbolic message[edit]
The reuse of profane art and culture for its own purposes was common in Christianity from the beginning. Thus the message of the triumph of the Christian message over heathenism can also be seen in the use of the panels in the ambon: previously worldly artworks were made into constitutive parts of the ambon as a sacred place for the proclamation of the Good News.[12] On another view, the Ambon of Henry II could be understood in its entirety as an eclectically designed attempt to put its foreign elements of diverse origin in the context of the Medieval Christian world view and to integrate them in this single object.[13]
Critical Editions of the Inscriptions
Art Historical Studies
Theological Studies