The Magi

The Iglesia de Santiago stands surrounded by macchia at the end of a dust road about a kilometer southeast of Agüero. This isolated place is probably why it is named as well "Ermita de Santiago". It is a very strange structure and I did not have much information about. At one time within the 12th century somebody had started to build a pretty large basilica (- in the middle of nowhere). Obviously money was not an issue, as gifted sculptors and experienced builders left their marks here. Then - some decades later, the building process stopped, the church was never completed. The Adoration of the Magi. No wonder, that the artist/workshop known as "Master of San Juan de la Peña" is even better known under the name of "Master of Agüero". I had seen his works in San Juan de la Peña and Sangüesa, but this well preserved, large tympanum is a masterpiece. The Virgin "equipped" with wide shoulders (compared to the Magi), seems to proudly accept the adoration of the child (nimbus), who blesses the visitors. Tired Joseph, holding a walking stick, seems to contemplate already about Egypt. A common Joseph-icon. One of the Magi kisses young Jesus´ feet - just like in Sos del Rey Católico (80kms northwest). A crack runs through the tympanum. From Jospeh´s shoulder down to the Virgin´s shoes. Two fierce, devouring animals hold the lintel. They will be better seen on one of the following uploads.

Estella was founded in 1090 by King Sancho Ramírez to encourage frankish merchants, to settle here and so support the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella. Recent excavations have proven, that early immigrants came from Le Puy ("Via Podensis") and Tour ("Via Turonensis"). The name "Estella" (= star) seems to be choosen by very experienced marketing specialists to start the business, as this refers to the Magi and as well to Charlemagne as he "saw in the heaven a pathway of stars" leading to Galicia (Pseudo Turpin). Aymeric Picaud, author the Codex Calixtinus, praises the food here and even mentions the "healthy water". Estella thrived, in 1354 there were six hospitals of pilgrims here. The "Iglesia de San Pedro de la Rúa" was mentioned already in 1174, in 1256 this was the largest church in Estella. Attached to "San Pedro de la Rúa" is the cloister, just like the church it got erected within the 12th century. Two sides of the cloister survived the times, though some of the carvings are rather weathered. The Magi have finally reached Bethlehem. The Adoration-Scene. The right one is on his knees, while the "Star of Bethlehem" (= Estella!) can be seen over the roof.

Estella was founded in 1090 by King Sancho Ramírez to encourage frankish merchants, to settle here and so support the pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostella. Recent excavations have proven, that early immigrants came from Le Puy ("Via Podensis") and Tour ("Via Turonensis"). The name "Estella" (= star) seems to be choosen by very experienced marketing specialists to start the business, as this refers to the Magi and as well to Charlemagne as he "saw in the heaven a pathway of stars" leading to Galicia (Pseudo Turpin). Aymeric Picaud, author the Codex Calixtinus, praises the food here and even mentions the "healthy water". Estella thrived, in 1354 there were six hospitals of pilgrims here. The "Iglesia de San Pedro de la Rúa" was mentioned already in 1174, in 1256 this was the largest church in Estella. Attached to "San Pedro de la Rúa" is the cloister, just like the church it got erected within the 12th century. Two sides of the cloister survived the times, though some of the carvings are rather weathered. The "Massacre of the Innocents" Matthew 2:16 "When Herod knew the magi had fooled him, he grew very angry. He sent soldiers to kill all the children in Bethlehem and in all the surrounding territory who were two years old and younger, according to the time that he had learned from the magi."

Villeneuve-l’Archevêque was founded by the Archbishop of Sens in the second half of the 12th century. The town was built on a checkerboard plan and protected by a wall. All the straight and wide streets were aligned parallel. Two transverse lanes and a few alleys, connect the parallel streets. Due to hostile feudal neighbours, fearing the loss of political power, the start was pretty difficult. It was supported by the Archbishop of Sens Guillaume aux Blanches Mains, whose brother was the Count of Champagne. Villeneuve experienced a certain economic success. In 1177, the king allowed the establishment of a market there. A hall was built to house the stalls and two fairs were established here. Notre-Dame dates from the time, when the village was founded. The church was largely remodelled in the 13th century with its Gothic nave, then in the 16th century, with the reconstruction of the transept and the choir in 1530-1540. Its remarkable north portal is an exceptional example of 13th-century Gothic artwork, centred around the "Coronation of the Virgin", a "young" Gothic icon, as most Romanesque tympana were connected to the "Last Judgement". It is believed that the first "coronation" was carved in Senlis around 1170. A detail of the lintel: The Magi

The former abbey church of Saint-Trophime, erected 1100-1150. The church is dedicated to St. Trophimus, the first bishop of Arles (3rd century). This church was the centre of a diocese up to the French Revolution. End of July 1178 Frederick I Barbarossa, was crowned here "King of Burgundy". His wife Beatrix was crowned a month later in the Cathedral St. Maurice - in Vienne. I have uploaded already many photos from here over the years already, so I just add a few. Many works of art that are now parts of the exhibition are not originally from this church. - Many works of art that are now parts of the exhibition are not originally from this church. - The sides of the third sarcophagus are poorly visible. Here are the magi in Bethlehem. The magi wear Phrygian caps like all ancient representations (see Ravenna).

Mölln is a small town (pop. ~20.000) surrounded by lakes. It was founded in the 12th century by Knight Konrad Wackerbarth by resettling Slavic peasants into today's Old Mölln. Around 1210, the settlement got the first fortifications. First time mentioned was the village 1188 in Barbarossa's privilege for Lübeck. Mölln fell to Denmark in 1201 and was granted "Lübische Stadtrecht" (town charter) by King Waldemar II. 25 years later Mölln fell to the Duke of Saxe-Lauenburg in 1227. In 1230 Mölln was mentioned as the youngest parish in the Ratzeburg tithe register. The church, which was probably built around this time, was placed under the patrocinium of St. Nicholas. Mölln was important due to the Old Salt Route, through which the salt produced in the salt mines of Lüneburg was shipped to the harbour of Lübeck. Although situated in the midst of the duchy of Lauenburg, the town was mortgaged to the Hanseatic town of Lübeck, which ruled Mölln from 1359 to 1683. St. Nicolai, the parish church, is located on the highest point, overlooking the town and the seas around. The construction started probably at the end of the 12th century. The oldest parts can be attributed to the Brick Romanesque period, the south nave to the Brick Gothic period. The choir room was probably finished around 1217, when the Bishop of Ratzeburg held his first synod here. In the 15th century, the church underwent alterations: in 1470/71, the south nave was extended and in 1497, the present baptistery and the sacristy were added. The oldest piece here is a limestone fragment from the beginning of the 13th century. The relief of this side shows the dream of the Magi.

Slavic Obodrites lived in the area, where Wismar is now, until the end of the 12th century. The exact date of the city's foundation is not clear, it had civic rights already in 1229 when migrants from Holstein and Westphalia settled here. The "Lübsches Stadtrecht" (town law) was confirmed in 1266. In 1259 Wismar joined a defensive agreement with Lübeck and Rostock, in order to counter the numerous Baltic pirates. Subsequently, more cities would agree to cooperate as commerce and trade were increasingly coordinated and regulated. These policies would provide the basis for the development of the "Hanseatic League". By the 13th and 14th centuries, Wismar had grown into a flourishing Hanseatic trading hub. In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered the city, and the Swedish Crown received in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 after the end of the Thirty Years' War. Swedish rule over Wismar ended de facto in 1803 when Sweden pledged the city to the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 99 years. Formally, Wismar reverted to Germany in 1903 and Sweden waived its right to redeem the pledge. Wismar is a typical representative of the Hanseatic League with its city-wide Brick Gothic structures and gabled patrician houses and has alongside the historical old town of Stralsund been declared the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar". The Nicolaikirche (Church St. Nicholas) was built from 1381 until 1487 as a church for sailors and fishermen. St. Nicholas is a fine testaments to mediaeval brick architecture in northern Germany. In 1381, the city council commissioned the master mason Heinrich von Bremen to complete the choir. The consecration of the high altar is documented for 1403. Heinrich von Bremen continued to work until 1415. In 1434 work was carried out on the north aisle and later the south aisle. Under the direction of Peter Stolp and Hermann von Münster in 1459, the work was completed to such an extent that the church could be consecrated. From 1485 to 1487, Hans Mertens built the two upper storeys of the tower, and the spire was added in 1508. In December 1703, a storm destroyed the spire. Its parts smashed through the roof and the vaults of the nave. Many pieces of the interior furnishings were destroyed. Afterwards, the tower received a transverse gable roof and the nave a flat ceiling. The renovation of the furnishings lasted until the second half of the 18th century. It was not until 1867 that a vault was erected again. The air raids during the Second World War caused only minor damage to the church. After the Second World War, the Nikolaikirche was the least damaged of all the large churches in Wismar. Many works of art had been stored away and thus survived the war, but the churches lay in ruins and the important Marienkirche was later blown up. So the Nikolaikirche became home to many objects from other churches. The Adoration of the Magi, wood, dated ~ 1450

Slavic Obodrites lived in the area, where Wismar is now, until the end of the 12th century. The exact date of the city's foundation is not clear, it had civic rights already in 1229 when migrants from Holstein and Westphalia settled here. The "Lübsches Stadtrecht" (town law) was confirmed in 1266. In 1259 Wismar joined a defensive agreement with Lübeck and Rostock, in order to counter the numerous Baltic pirates. Subsequently, more cities would agree to cooperate as commerce and trade were increasingly coordinated and regulated. These policies would provide the basis for the development of the "Hanseatic League". By the 13th and 14th centuries, Wismar had grown into a flourishing Hanseatic trading hub. In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered the city, and the Swedish Crown received in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 after the end of the Thirty Years' War. Swedish rule over Wismar ended de facto in 1803 when Sweden pledged the city to the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 99 years. Formally, Wismar reverted to Germany in 1903 and Sweden waived its right to redeem the pledge. Wismar is a typical representative of the Hanseatic League with its city-wide Brick Gothic structures and gabled patrician houses and has alongside the historical old town of Stralsund been declared the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar". The Nicolaikirche (Church St. Nicholas) was built from 1381 until 1487 as a church for sailors and fishermen. St. Nicholas is a fine testaments to mediaeval brick architecture in northern Germany. In 1381, the city council commissioned the master mason Heinrich von Bremen to complete the choir. The consecration of the high altar is documented for 1403. Heinrich von Bremen continued to work until 1415. In 1434 work was carried out on the north aisle and later the south aisle. Under the direction of Peter Stolp and Hermann von Münster in 1459, the work was completed to such an extent that the church could be consecrated. From 1485 to 1487, Hans Mertens built the two upper storeys of the tower, and the spire was added in 1508. In December 1703, a storm destroyed the spire. Its parts smashed through the roof and the vaults of the nave. Many pieces of the interior furnishings were destroyed. Afterwards, the tower received a transverse gable roof and the nave a flat ceiling. The renovation of the furnishings lasted until the second half of the 18th century. It was not until 1867 that a vault was erected again. The air raids during the Second World War caused only minor damage to the church. After the Second World War, the Nikolaikirche was the least damaged of all the large churches in Wismar. Many works of art had been stored away and thus survived the war, but the churches lay in ruins and the important Marienkirche was later blown up. The Adoration of the Magi. Detail of the Krämeraltar (Krämer = merchant), donated to the Marienkirche around 1430 by the merchants. (See previous upload).

Slavic Obodrites lived in the area, where Wismar is now, until the end of the 12th century. The exact date of the city's foundation is not clear, it had civic rights already in 1229 when migrants from Holstein and Westphalia settled here. The "Lübsches Stadtrecht" (town law) was confirmed in 1266. In 1259 Wismar joined a defensive agreement with Lübeck and Rostock, in order to counter the numerous Baltic pirates. Subsequently, more cities would agree to cooperate as commerce and trade were increasingly coordinated and regulated. These policies would provide the basis for the development of the "Hanseatic League". By the 13th and 14th centuries, Wismar had grown into a flourishing Hanseatic trading hub. In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered the city, and the Swedish Crown received in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 after the end of the Thirty Years' War. Swedish rule over Wismar ended de facto in 1803 when Sweden pledged the city to the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 99 years. Formally, Wismar reverted to Germany in 1903 and Sweden waived its right to redeem the pledge. Wismar is a typical representative of the Hanseatic League with its city-wide Brick Gothic structures and gabled patrician houses and has alongside the historical old town of Stralsund been declared the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar". The "Heiligen Geist Kirche" (Holy Spirit Church) is part of the "Heiligen Geist Hospital", which was founded in the middle of the 13th century as a hospital for the poor. In 1323, the hospital was placed under papal protection and construction of the present church began. The main altar was consecrated in 1326. Today's single-nave brick building essentially dates from the first third of the 14th century and was initially a place of worship, clinic and hostel at the same time. The "Adoration of the Magi" from the first half of the 15th century was originally in St. Georgen. The almost life-size figures are carved from oak.

Slavic Obodrites lived in the area, where Wismar is now, until the end of the 12th century. The exact date of the city's foundation is not clear, it had civic rights already in 1229 when migrants from Holstein and Westphalia settled here. The "Lübsches Stadtrecht" (town law) was confirmed in 1266. In 1259 Wismar joined a defensive agreement with Lübeck and Rostock, in order to counter the numerous Baltic pirates. Subsequently, more cities would agree to cooperate as commerce and trade were increasingly coordinated and regulated. These policies would provide the basis for the development of the "Hanseatic League". By the 13th and 14th centuries, Wismar had grown into a flourishing Hanseatic trading hub. In 1632, during the Thirty Years' War, Sweden conquered the city, and the Swedish Crown received in the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 after the end of the Thirty Years' War. Swedish rule over Wismar ended de facto in 1803 when Sweden pledged the city to the Duchy of Mecklenburg-Schwerin for 99 years. Formally, Wismar reverted to Germany in 1903 and Sweden waived its right to redeem the pledge. Wismar is a typical representative of the Hanseatic League with its city-wide Brick Gothic structures and gabled patrician houses and has alongside the historical old town of Stralsund been declared the UNESCO World Heritage Site "Historic Centres of Stralsund and Wismar". The "Heiligen Geist Kirche" (Holy Spirit Church) is part of the "Heiligen Geist Hospital", which was founded in the middle of the 13th century as a hospital for the poor. In 1323, the hospital was placed under papal protection and construction of the present church began. The main altar was consecrated in 1326. Today's single-nave brick building essentially dates from the first third of the 14th century and was initially a place of worship, clinic and hostel at the same time. The "Adoration of the Magi" from the first half of the 15th century was originally in St. Georgen. The almost life-size figures are carved from oak. Melchior and Caspar

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. - Marienkirche is a large Brick Gothic church. Built in the 13th century, it was enlarged and modified at the end of the 14th century into the present basilica. The first reference to a church on this site is in 1232, which is thought to be the predecessor of the current building. The triple-nave cross-shaped basilica is in Brick Gothic, a building style typical of the Hanseatic port cities. The huge tower with a baroque lantern at the top was not completed until the end of the 18th century. In 1419, the University of Rostock was founded, the oldest university in the Baltic Sea area. It was ceremoniously opened in the Marienkirche. The parish priest of the church, Nikolaus Türkow, was personally involved in the founding of the university and the church remained closely associated with it for a long time. Even today, the "professors' pews" indicate that St. Mary's Church had the function of a university and council church until the turn of the century around 1900. The baptismal font was probably cast by Lower Saxon artists in Rostock because there are strong similarities with the baptismal font in Hildesheim Cathedral, which is 40 years older. The bowl and lid are stylistically differentiated and were made by different masters. An inscription dates the casting or consecration of the font to Easter 1290. The round font is supported by four bearded male figures holding jugs from which water flows. They bear the inscriptions Aer (air), Aqua (water), Ignis (fire), Terra (earth). Unlike the reliefs on the font, the figures on the lid were not cast as well but riveted on afterwards. The central part of the basin depicts the life of Jesus. The story, consisting of 21 pictures, begins with the Annunciation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary and ends with the Resurrection of Jesus and his meeting with Mary Magdalene. The baptism and ascension of Jesus are the depictions on the lid.The parable of the wise and foolish virgins has also found its place on the lid. During WWII, the font was stored in a village church for protection against air raids, buried in 1945 before the Red Army arrived, and returned ( pretty damaged) to Marienkirche in 1951. The Magi

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. - The museum, founded mid 19th century, is hosted in the "Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz", that got finally dissolved in 1920. The conversion into a museum began already in 1976, but the restoration of the buildings remained incomplete until 1997. The "Dreikönigsaltar" (Magis´ Altar) is the former high altar of of the church of the Rostock´s "St. Johanneskloster", a monastery of the Dominicans. The winged altar dates from around 1425 and was donated to the Dominicans by the "Fraternitas Trium Regum", the "Brotherhood of the Three Kings". It originally had two pairs of wings. Two of them are in a Berlin museum, while two are still here. The wings depict different scenes from the Magi legend. The "Dream of the Magi"

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. - The museum, founded mid 19th century, is hosted in the "Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz", that got finally dissolved in 1920. The conversion into a museum began already in 1976, but the restoration of the buildings remained incomplete until 1997. The "Dreikönigsaltar" (Magis´ Altar) is the former high altar of of the church of the Rostock´s "St. Johanneskloster", a monastery of the Dominicans. The winged altar dates from around 1425 and was donated to the Dominicans by the "Fraternitas Trium Regum", the "Brotherhood of the Three Kings". It originally had two pairs of wings. Two of them are in a Berlin museum, while two are still here. The wings depict different scenes from the Magi legend. The "Adoration of the Magi"

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. - The museum, founded mid 19th century, is hosted in the "Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz", that got finally dissolved in 1920. The conversion into a museum began already in 1976, but the restoration of the buildings remained incomplete until 1997. The "Dreikönigsaltar" (Magis´ Altar) is the former high altar of of the church of the Rostock´s "St. Johanneskloster", a monastery of the Dominicans. The winged altar dates from around 1425 and was donated to the Dominicans by the "Fraternitas Trium Regum", the "Brotherhood of the Three Kings". It originally had two pairs of wings. Two of them are in a Berlin museum, while two are still here. The wings depict different scenes from the Magi legend. The Magi on their way home onboard a ship. The city in the backdrop is Rostock. Seems, they did a little detour.

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. - The museum, founded mid 19th century, is hosted in the "Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz", that got finally dissolved in 1920. The conversion into a museum began already in 1976, but the restoration of the buildings remained incomplete until 1997. The "Dreikönigsaltar" (Magis´ Altar) is the former high altar of of the church of the Rostock´s "St. Johanneskloster", a monastery of the Dominicans. The winged altar dates from around 1425 and was donated to the Dominicans by the "Fraternitas Trium Regum", the "Brotherhood of the Three Kings". It originally had two pairs of wings. Two of them are in a Berlin museum, while two are still here. The wings depict different scenes from the Magi legend. I have never before seen the Baptism of the Magi - There are two medieval authors who knew, that the Magi got baptized. Dominican preacher Giselher von Slatheim (~ 1320) and Carmelite friar Johannes von Hildesheim (~1350), author of "Historia Trium Regum", the "History of the Three Kings".

With more than 200.000 inhabitants Rostock is the largest city in the state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. Small Slavic settlements existed already in the 8th century. A settlement named Roztok was founded in the 11th century by Polabian Slavs. This town was burnt down by troops of the Danish king Valdemar I in 1161. Afterwards the place was settled by German traders. After 1226 Rostock became the seat of the Lordship of Rostock. In the 1250s the city became a member of the Hanseatic League. In the 14th century it was a powerful seaport town with 12,000 inhabitants and the largest city in Mecklenburg. Ships for cruising the Baltic Sea were constructed in Rostock. Until the last Hansa Convention in 1669, Rostock took a leading role in the Baltic Sea behind Lübeck. - The museum, founded mid 19th century, is hosted in the "Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz", that got finally dissolved in 1920. The conversion into a museum began already in 1976, but the restoration of the buildings remained incomplete until 1997. The "Dreikönigsaltar" (Magis´ Altar) is the former high altar of of the church of the Rostock´s "St. Johanneskloster", a monastery of the Dominicans. The winged altar dates from around 1425 and was donated to the Dominicans by the "Fraternitas Trium Regum", the "Brotherhood of the Three Kings". It originally had two pairs of wings. Two of them are in a Berlin museum, while two are still here. The wings depict different scenes from the Magi legend. Obviously, the Magi made a career within the Church organisation, after they were baptized (prev. upload). Since they wear mitres, they became either abbots or bishops. While two are lying in their joint coffin, the third is celebrating the Requiem. Note the altar retable. It shows the Magi adorating in Bethlehem.

Anklam was originally a Wendish fortress, as there was a Scandinavian and Wendish settlement here in the early Middle Ages. Later the town became part of the Duchy of Pomerania. During the German eastward expansion, the abandoned fortress was developed into a settlement. The town has significance as a shipping port on the river Peene. It was elevated to the status of a town in 1244 and joined the Hanseatic League in the same year and prospered through membership. The town suffered greatly during the Thirty Years' War when Swedish and imperial troops fought over it for twenty years. During this and subsequent wars, the town was repeatedly ravaged by fires and the plague. After the war, Anklam became part of Swedish Pomerania in 1648 but in 1676 it was conquered by Frederick William of Brandenburg. In 1713 Anklam was sacked by soldiers of the Russian Empire. With the Stockholm Treaty of 1720, the southern parts of the town were ceded to Prussia, while a smaller part north of the Peene remained Swedish. - The Marienkirche was first mentioned in 1296. The construction probably began 40 years earlier. It was a Romanesque church with a double tower, which can be classified as much older and was then rebuilt in Gothic style. The Romanesque tower is still recognisable in the masonry of its Gothic successor. By the end of the 15th century, St. Mary's Church had acquired its present appearance. The design of the tower changed over time. In 1816, the pointed spire, which had been destroyed by fire, was replaced by a lower pyramidal roof. In 1884, the low spire also burnt down after a lightning strike, whereupon the four gables of the tower were rebuilt and substantially raised, and the Marienkirche was provided with a Gothic pointed spire, which reached a height of about 100 metres. The new spire was completed in 1888. During a bombing raid in 1943, this construction was destroyed and only three of the former four gables remained standing. After the war, the tower was given a simpler gable roof with only two gables and today has a height of 64 metres. Much of the furnishings was removed during the Second World War. It did not save them, however, because most of it disappeared there. Sippenaltar The Sippenaltar (clan altar) was created around the year 1500. The "Holy Kinship" was depicted on the Anklam altar with figures between a growing rose bush. There was a large central box with two folding side wings that made it possible to open the altar on holidays and close it at other times. All carved figures of the altar were lost during WWII. Only the painted outsides of the wings were preserved. They show two scenes from the Christmas story. Left: Mary and Joseph with the child. Right: Mary and the Child with the Magi. Other scenes from the story can be seen in the background: The shepherds

Anklam was originally a Wendish fortress, as there was a Scandinavian and Wendish settlement here in the early Middle Ages. Later the town became part of the Duchy of Pomerania. During the German eastward expansion, the abandoned fortress was developed into a settlement. The town has significance as a shipping port on the river Peene. It was elevated to the status of a town in 1244 and joined the Hanseatic League in the same year and prospered through membership. The town suffered greatly during the Thirty Years' War when Swedish and imperial troops fought over it for twenty years. During this and subsequent wars, the town was repeatedly ravaged by fires and the plague. After the war, Anklam became part of Swedish Pomerania in 1648 but in 1676 it was conquered by Frederick William of Brandenburg. In 1713 Anklam was sacked by soldiers of the Russian Empire. With the Stockholm Treaty of 1720, the southern parts of the town were ceded to Prussia, while a smaller part north of the Peene remained Swedish. - The Marienkirche was first mentioned in 1296. The construction probably began 40 years earlier. It was a Romanesque church with a double tower, which can be classified as much older and was then rebuilt in Gothic style. The Romanesque tower is still recognisable in the masonry of its Gothic successor. By the end of the 15th century, St. Mary's Church had acquired its present appearance. There was a highly interesting temporary exhibition of tiles with religious motifs in Marienkirche. I learned that in times when pictures were frowned upon in Protestant, Calvinist areas, pious people used such tiles. Here are the Magis