In the Garden of Eden? Mineral lore and preaching in the Erzgebirge

In the sixteenth-century Erzgebirge/Krušnohoří Mining Region, Christian interpretations of precious metals like gold and silver revealed deep cultural divides. While some viewed these materials as symbols of divine transcendence, others condemned them as earthly luxuries. This study analyzes artworks crafted from silver ores—depicting miners alongside biblical scenes such as the Crucifixion—and contemporary texts to uncover the conflicting theological and material perspectives. The research demonstrates that, despite partial reconciliation efforts, these interpretations remained largely irreconcilable due to inherent inconsistencies in their underlying values.

Haug, H. (2019). In the Garden of Eden? Mineral lore and preaching in the Erzgebirge. Renaissance Studies, 34(1), 57–77. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/rest.12585