Worms

a city of Hesse, Germany. It is situated on the left bank of the Rhine between Manheim and Mainz, in the center of a rich wine-producing region. It was originally a town of the Celts, then a Roman stronghold. Later it became the capital of the kingdom of Burgundy. It is famous in literature in connection with the Nibelungenlied. From the time of Charlemagne onward Worms was a frequent royal residence and was the seat of many imperial diets. The famous Diet at Worms, before which Luther defended his doctrines, was held in 1521. A monument commemorating the event is one of the principal outdoor ornaments of the city. It stands on a massive platform about fifty feet square and nine feet high. In the center stands Luther, a commanding figure of bronze about eleven feet in height. The edges of the platform are occupied by smaller statues of Huss, Savonarola, Wyclif, Peter Waldo, and others, including Melanchthon and Frederick the Wise. During the Middle Ages Worms was one of the most important towns in Germany. The chief building is the Cathedral of Worms, a Roman edifice begun in 1110. It has four erect towers, two domes, and a double choir. The ground plan is rectangular in form. The Jewish synagogue is the oldest place of Hebrew worship in Europe. In the time of Frederick Barbarossa the city contained 70,000 inhabitants. The present population is about 40,000. Aside from being the center of a rich agricultural district, the present industries are manufactures of tobacco, beer, soap, amber wares, patent leather, etc. See Luther