Centuries

I've been taking some early-ish morning walks around Strasbourg, as we prepare to leave. I came across a statue for the first time this morning of Jean (Johannes) Hultz of Cologne, designer in the 1400's of the spires (which turned out to be just spire) on the Notre Dame Cathedral here in our fair city. (By the way, this cathedral was the highest building in the world between 1647 and 1874! We are famous yet again.)

Apparently the first Cathedral on this spot was built in the 7th century. (A 4th-century version, which did not last, was built a few blocks away.) Of course, due to pillaging and fires and battles and such, it and the next needed replacing. The current structure was begun 900-1000 years ago and has been around for 700 or so...with one spire. It was intended that two spires would top it, but those in charge realized as the construction moved ahead that the Cathedral was starting to sink. (This is one version of the story, anyhow.) So they quit at one spire, which gives Strasbourg an edge in the cool factor for tourists.

What struck me about Johannes Hultz of Cologne, though, was the inscription on his statue. At first glance it seems to say he was only twenty years old when he died, but the dates in fact mean that he worked on this Cathedral design and implementation for twenty years, from 1419-1439. No wonder he points at the spire with such a look of pride and bafflement.
Although their lives were comparatively short 700 years ago, they could choose to spend the whole of adulthood on one grand project, given enough meaning in it. My life suddenly feels flittery and impatient and light.