Corvey Abbey

"Benedictine monasteries were not only religious centers in the Middle Ages. They also performed important economic, political, and cultural functions. Corvey Abbey, for example, helped integrate the region on the Weser bend, which had been violently conquered under Charlemagne, into the Frankish Empire in the 9th and 10th centuries, to Christianize and administer it. Above all, ancient texts were copied in the monastic scriptorium, without which historians today would know nothing about the history, mythology, scholarship, and philosophy of the ancient Greeks and Romans. The Corvey monastery library contained the writings of many classical authors, most notably Tacitus's "Germania." This text also mentions that the famous Battle of the Teutoburg Forest is said to have taken place in the Teutoburg Forest. Virgil, Ovid, and Horace were also read and interpreted in Corvey. A testament to this period, so significant for Corvey, is the so-called Carolingian westwork – a church space set to the west, built between 873 and 885 under the Carolingian royal and imperial dynasty. What makes the westwork special are its preserved medieval wall paintings, which figuratively reference the Greek Odyssey. The fragmentary wall friezes in the St. John's choir thus depict Odysseus's wanderings on the dangerous and uncertain sea in a Christian manner. The sea ultimately represented the threats of the world through which the ship of the Christians – that is, the Church – had to navigate. One scene depicts the epic hero Odysseus fighting the sea monster Scylla. This hybrid creature has the upper body of a woman and a belt of dogs that seem to be snapping wildly at each other. Under her right arm, Scylla holds one of Odysseus's unfortunate companions. He has apparently been torn from the ship and will likely be devoured by Scylla's hounds in the next indicated moment. However, Odysseus stabs one of the hounds in the jaws with his lance, forcing Scylla to retreat somewhat, even though she is far from defeated. The outcome of the fight seems quite open. In the monastic Christian context, the monster can certainly be interpreted as a demoness or dragon. The virtuous Odysseus must bravely defend himself against it, analogous to the Archangel Michael. The Christians who do not stand firm—represented by Odysseus's unfortunate companion—fall victim to the terrible sea monster or the devil. Their souls seem lost. This scene thus possibly alludes to lingering pagan traditions in some segments of the population. The complete Christianization of the "Saxons" must certainly have been a lengthy process—not an act that could be suddenly enforced from one moment to the next with baptism. Also noteworthy are the depictions of a harp-playing siren with the upper body of a human and the legs of a green bird. This figure, craving human flesh, attempts to steer Odysseus's ship off course with enchanting music. Also worth discovering is a scene with a dolphin leaping from the water and another ship that already appears heavily damaged by the sea. In 1992, architectural researchers discovered another special feature in the westwork: preliminary drawings for four stucco figures added later. The intended sculptures possibly represented the Carolingian kings, as the brushwork on the masonry suggests military cloaks, so-called chlamys. However, since clear symbolic attributes such as a crown and scepter are missing, this interpretation remains speculative. It is certainly conceivable, however, that the Frankish kings held solemn church masses and court days in the westwork, i.e., held political meetings with selected princes and nobles and consulted with them. All of this could be explained even better with additional text panels."

Jannik Gorewoda

"Large facility with free parking"

Jacek K

"Interesting historic westwork. A visit to the church is worthwhile, although there's a fee, but there's plenty to see. The lower part is wheelchair accessible. The staff is friendly and will answer a few questions. The grave of Hoffmann von Fallersleben is in the adjacent cemetery."

Tobias Kröger (TopseAS)