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All Germany Bonn Heads of Saints Cassius and Florentius
AO Edited

Heads of Saints Cassius and Florentius

A pair of giant stone heads represent the ancient Roman saints beheaded here.

Bonn, Germany

Added By
Fred Cherrygarden
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The saints’ heads in front of Bonn Minster.   Thomas Marquina Reyes
The head of Saint Florentius.   jaime.silva
Saint Cassius’s decapitated head, rolling around.   jaime.silva
Saints Cassius and Florentius, executed here in the 3rd century.   Sir James
The head of Saint Cassius.   Sir James
Bonn Minster, Germany.   Thomas Wolf
The busts of the two saints, October 2010.   Leonce49
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One of Germany's oldest churches, Bonn Minster was built between the 11th and 13th centuries. It was the collegiate church of Saints Cassius and Florentius, third-century Roman legionaries of the legendary all-Christian Theban Legion.

According to the legend, the Legion's garrison was ordered by Roman Emperor Maxentius Herculius to march to Gaul. While on their way, the Emperor either ordered the Legion to massacre fellow Christians or worship him as a god. The soldiers refused, resulting in their martyrdom. Cassius and Florentius were beheaded on the site where Bonn Minster stands today.

In 2002, German-Turkish sculptor Iskender Yediler created a pair of giant granite sculptures, replicating the heads of the two saints portrayed at the church. They have been placed in front of Bonn Minster, lying mid-roll in a somewhat surreal manner.

Inside the church, a pair of 18th-century hardwood busts depicting Cassius and Florentius were discovered in its storehouse in 2006. Restored, they are put on display during the festive times in October above the entrance to the crypt.

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Sculptures Christianity Roman Religion Churches Saints

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Added By

Fred Cherrygarden

Published

May 31, 2023

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Heads of Saints Cassius and Florentius
14 Gangolfstraße
Bonn, 53111
Germany
50.733448, 7.099449
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