Grimm Brothers Museum

Gutenburg Press and Museum

We visited the Gutenburg press Museum today, a place which holds the oldest collection of the  history of printing and development of books as we know them.   I was impressed that they hold the development of printing from different cultures.  There are four floors of artefacts and items. We allowed two hours, but this was def not enough time to see everything and take in the astounding inventions which changed the face of the written word.

Johann Gutenburg invented the moveable printing press 500 years ago, something that revolutionised the speed and accuracy of spreading the written word amongst the literate.  Of course, at the time, about the only thing that was distributed was the bible, which until his invention came around had to be hand printed, page by page, but monks with a squint.

Its incredible to think that with this one invention, it revolutionised the entire world. Economically and socially, the advent of a printing press allowed the spread of literature and learning, paving the way for the modern world.  The increase of literacy bolstered up the middle class, ensuring that learning was no longer held exclusively by the upper and royal classes. 

The photo above is of a hymn book from the 15th century. That blows my head off.. So beautiful.

Something I hadn't realised is that although every Gutenburg bible was printed exactly the same - each was individual and unique. The margins and paragraph letters and colouring were drawn and painted in by monks to order. 

An example of the intricate designs painted in medieval bibles. 

Morgan and Lilly were lucky enough to be chosen to help out with the one of the old ( 300 years old) printing presses. 

Here they are pulling the press downward onto the metal casted letters. 

Here is the finished product, which we were given to take home - W00T!!

The Nagelsäule – Nail Pillar in Mainz

I remember going past this tall pillar last time I was in Mainz, so did some research on it to tell the kids. 

The Nagelsäule – Nail Pillar – has stood beside the Liebfrauenplatz  near the Cathedral since 1916.

I believe that there are no other pillars like this left in existence - so its pretty special. 

In the first world war, as things started to turn from bad to worse for the Germans, the Mayor of Mainz decided to put on a show of solidarity and fundraising for the war effort. 

They erected this 7 metre pillar made from an Oak tree,  and put the Iron Cross on the top with the words “In Kriegsnot helf uns Gott” (“God help us in times of war”) 

Its decorated in large rings, with the top dedicated to war, under it the state and under it love - as in brotherly love. 

The bottom ring is an area that people  could decorate it nails which represented certain amounts of donations. The nails cost 1 Mark  - about 5 Euros. There were gold coloured ones as well for 20 Marks. People could then hammer their nail in. Quite alot of money was raised which was then sent to soldiers spouses and children suffering the war.

Its a pretty spectacular sight.