Ottonian cathedral of Magdeburg found

Archeologists say they have unearthed the remains of a giant cathedral in eastern Germany known to have been built by Holy Roman Emperor Otto the Great in the 10th century. "This is one of the most important finds on the history of the early Middle Ages in Europe," said dig leader Rainer Kuhn of the State Office for Archeology in Magdeburg. . .

Laden with Italian marble, glass mosaic stones and glazed wall tiles – remains of which were all found at the site – the Romanesque cathedral was as extraordinary in its beauty as in its size. "It was the largest house of worship north of the Alps apart from the Cologne Cathedral," said Kuhn, adding that it was believed to have measured 80 metres long and 60 metres high. . .

Foundation stones have just been discovered and are believed to have been part of the western wing of the church, construction of which began in 955.

The Cathedral of Magdeburg was dedicated in 968. It was Otto the Great's final resting place, but was destroyed by fire in 1207. It was replaced in 1209 by the gothic Magdeburg Cathedral.

It had been believed the ancient church was on the same site as today's cathedral, but the recent finds now put the site 50 metres to the south.

Posted by David on June 4, 2003 4:14 PM