Maria Ecclesia

The architectural conception of the Aachen Marienschrein was designed to evoke monumental Gothic architecture, particularly associated with Notre-Dame de Chartres. This study reveals that, despite the shrine's significance as a church-shaped relic container, there is no evidence that specific knowledge of the relics it housed—such as the Virgin Mary’s tunic or Christ Child’s swaddling cloth—was known at the time of its planning and execution in the 9th century. The research analyzes historical documents and art historical traditions to establish this finding, while also exploring the shrine's broader cultural and religious significance within medieval art.

Ciresi, L. V. (2017). Maria Ecclesia. Binding the Absent Body in Medieval and Modern Art, 51–72. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315096322-4