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Luther Monument

Luther Monument Worms, Germany

General View
The Luther Monument, dedicated in 1868. Worms, Germany. Image credit: David Joyal

Overview
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The Luther Monument (Lutherdenkmal) in Worms is the largest Reformation monument in the world and contains statues of the most important figures in the German Reformation.

History
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Worms' Luther Monument was designed by Ernst Rietschel and its construction was made possible by donations from the whole Lutheran world.

The monument was erected in 1868, in a new park constructed on the site of the former town moat.

Description
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Martin Luther stands in the center of the monument, flanked by Frederick the Wise of Saxony and Philip of Hesse, two powerful princes who played a large role in the political success of the Reformation.

Behind Luther stand two important Protestant scholars, Johannes Reuchlin and Philipp Melanchthon. Seated at Luther's feet are the main forerunners of the Reformation: Peter Waldo, John Wycliffe, Jan Hus and Girolamo Savonarola.

The seated women in the monument represent the first German cities to adopt Protestantism, and between the wall and the statue of Luther are the names of other towns that also played an important role in the Reformation.