I’m sitting at an altar dedicated to Diana the Huntress at the Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne, Germany. From what I understand Restitutus was sent to catch wild animals for the Cologne arena or amphitheater and set up this altar in honor of Diana. After all, Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature in Roman mythology. She was also associated with wild animals and had the power to talk to and control animals. May 22, 2018

View of the main nave and choir of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. The interior of the cathedral stands out in comparison to other High Gothic cathedrals because of the unique vertical emphasis of its nave. May 22, 2018

A closer view of the stairs leading to the main nave of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. May 22, 2018

At the high altar of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, is this gold container, the Shrine of the Three Kings. It is said to contain the bones of the Biblical Magi, also known as the Three Kings or the Three Wise Men, a group of distinguished foreigners who visited Jesus after his birth, bearing gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. May 22, 2018

Located next to the Agilolphus Altarpiece at the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, is this shrine made by Cologne-based goldsmith Josef Kleefisch in 1914 and contains the remains of St. Agilolphus, the Bishop of Cologne who died in the year 750. May 22, 2018

“Altarpiece of the Patron Saints of Cologne,” by Stefan Lochner, can be scene in the west side of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. The triptych altarpiece was painted in the 1440s for the chapel of the Cologne town council. At the centre is the Virgin Mary and the patron saints of the city of Cologne grouped symmetrically around her. They are saints whose history or relics connected them particularly closely with Cologne, where they were regarded as protectors.

St. Ursula stands in the left-hand panel with her virgins and the right panel contains St. Gereon with his companions. May 22, 2018

A close-up of the center panel of the “Altarpiece of the Patron Saints of Cologne,” by Stefan Lochner, at the west side of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, shows the Virgin Mary and the patron saints of the city of Cologne grouped symmetrically around her. They are saints whose history or relics connected them particularly closely with Cologne, where they were regarded as protectors. May 22, 2018

The Shrine of the Jeweled Madonna, at the north transept of the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, is where many come to pray and light candles because it is said to work miracles. In the glowing case is a statue of the Virgin and Child dressed in a long white gown covered with jewelry. May 22, 2018

The Altar of the Cross with the Gero Cross from around 965 to 9750 AD, at the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany, is an important medieval art piece because of the way it uniquely depicts Jesus Christ on the Cross. The slumped head, twisted body, sideways bent knees and hands nailed in different heights shows an image on the cross that is not as familiar. This is considered one of the oldest large sculpture of the crucified Christ and has always been displayed in the cathedral. It was commissioned by Gero, Archbishop of Cologne, who died in 976 AD. May 22, 2018

The south transept modern stained glass window inside the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany was designed by Gerhard Richter. The window, inaugurated in 2007, features 11,263 squares made of blown glass. May 22, 2018

The Adoration of the Shepherds and the Three Magi are two biblical accounts compressed into one stained glass inside the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. May 22, 2018

A close-up of the Adoration of the Shepherds and the Three Magi stained glass inside the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. May 22, 2018

The portal entryway to the Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. May 22, 2018

The Cologne Cathedral in Cologne, Germany. In 1996, the cathedral was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List of culturally important sites. May 22, 2018

A visit to the Romano-Germanic Museum, next to the Cologne Cathedral, exhibited the life and death of Roman citizens in Cologne, Germany. Death and the afterlife were ever-present in Roman Cologne. It has a large collection of Roman artifacts from the Roman settlement of Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, on which modern Cologne exists. May 22, 2018

These small figures at the Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne, Germany, are also associated with Diana the Huntress, number 4 is a bust and number 5 is Diana with a donation bowl. May 22, 2018

This is a bowl with Apollo and Diana at the Romano-Germanic Museum in Cologne, Germany. Diana was the goddess of the hunt, the moon, and nature in Roman mythology and Apollo, her twin brother, who is disciplined, militaristic, and warlike. May 22, 2018