Immovable Ladder

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immovable_Ladder

by jihadjihad • 2 years ago

49 9 2 years ago

en.wikipedia.org

Jun8• 2 years ago

They must be changing the ladder sometime, the one in the latest photo doesn’t look like it’s 300+ yrs old. Also it seems to have only five rungs whereas the one from a drawing around 1842 has six https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Immovable_Ladder#/media/File...

mportela• 2 years ago

From the article:

Its presence in its current location signifies the adherence to an agreement among six Christian denominations, who collectively own the church, not to move, repair, or alter anything in the church without the consent of all six denominations.

barbazoo2• 2 years ago

In 1997, the ladder was supposedly pulled in through the window and hidden behind an altar by a Protestant intending "to make a point of the silliness of the argument over whose ledge it is". It was returned to the ledge weeks later, and a grate was installed in the window.[8] In 2009, the ladder was reputedly placed against the left window for a short period before being moved back again.[

observationist• 2 years ago

The actual pictures show what appears to be the same ladder. It looks more likely that the artist took a little artistic license. Wood can last a very long time in hot, dry environments. People get crazy over stuff like this, so replacements would likely be built to the exact dimensions of the original, whereas a drawing or engraving isn't going to be an exact replica. If the artist was a devout adherent with a religious/emotional investment in the issue, they'd probably have gotten the ladder details intentionally.

The artist doesn't appear to have been a zealot or invested in the mythos of the ladder. He's a neat character in his own right: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Haghe

jhallenworld2• 2 years ago

Wood can last a very long time in hot, dry environments.

There are 5000 year old wood beams in the Egyptian pyramids.

But also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kalambo_structure

barbazoo2• 2 years ago

During his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1964, Pope Paul VI referred to the ladder as [...] a "visible symbol of adherence to the 'Status Quo'".

jihadjihad• 2 years ago

The Wikipedia article could use some editing; this sentence is included again immediately after the first instance:

During his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1964, Pope Paul VI referred to the ladder as a "visible symbol of division in Christianity" and a "visible symbol of adherence to the 'Status Quo'".[4]
During his pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1964, Pope Paul VI described the ladder as a visible symbol of Christian division.

_a_a_a_• 2 years ago

How strangely, bafflingly, charming.

jhallenworld2• 2 years ago

The key to open the door is held by a Muslim, Adeeb Joudeh. His family holds it by tradition for the last 800 years, the idea is that he's a disinterested third party. There is an interview with him where he talks about visits by Bush and Putin. He was impressed by Putin's visit.. at that time Putin was making an impression with the Russian Orthodox community, so he made the most of it.

There are regular riots between the christian sects over turf within the Church. Just search on youtube..

Immovable Ladder

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