Der Dom zu Frankfurt am Main 

Johann Georg Reinheimer captured the Frankfurt Cathedral in this early nineteenth-century drawing. Notice the cross atop its imposing spire; it’s not merely an architectural detail, but a symbol laden with centuries of meaning. The cross, a symbol of sacrifice and redemption, evolved from earlier solar symbols and pagan representations of life. Here, it dominates the skyline, asserting spiritual authority over the terrestrial realm. Yet, consider its echo in the crosses that adorned the battlefield standards of ancient Rome, or even the simple 'x' marking a point of convergence or decision. The psychological weight of such symbols is immense. They tap into collective memory, evoking both the promise of salvation and the stark reality of suffering. It is this very tension that lends the cross its enduring power, capable of eliciting devotion, fear, and even skepticism across different eras and cultures. Reinheimer's cross is not static; it is a point in an ongoing, cyclical progression.