Goethe-Hafis-Denkmal

Why two chairs? That’s the question that often comes to mind when first encountering the Goethe-Hafis-Denkmal. Here, in Weimar, on Beethovenplatz, near the Hauptstaatsarchiv and at the edge of the Ilmpark, stand two simple granite chairs, forever facing each other. The Goethe-Hafis-Denkmal isn’t a towering statue or an elaborate fountain. It’s a quiet conversation in stone, a monument to the unlikely friendship between two literary giants from vastly different worlds. Unveiled in 2000, the year of intercultural dialogue, the Goethe-Hafis-Denkmal commemorates Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Germany’s beloved poet, and Hafis, the 14th-century Persian lyrical master. The monument was a gift from UNESCO to the Klassikstiftung Weimar. Iranian President Mohammad Khatami and German President Johannes Rau were both present at the dedication, a testament to the monument’s symbolic importance. The two granite chairs, sculpted from a single block by artists Ernst Thevis and Fabian Rabsch, represent the meeting of East and West. They symbolize the shared spirit of Goethe and Hafis, a connection forged across centuries and continents. Between the chairs, on a low pedestal adorned with oriental ornamentation, lies a bronze plaque. Inscribed on this plaque is a Ghasel, a poem by Hafis, written in elegant Persian script. The pedestal also bears inscriptions from Goethe’s “West-östlicher Divan,” his final great collection of poems. One side proclaims: “He who knows himself and others here will admit, East and West, no longer divided.” The other side declares: “Glorious is the Orient, across the sea. Only he who loves and knows Hafis, knows what Calderon has sung.” The Goethe-Hafis-Denkmal serves as a reminder of the power of art to transcend boundaries. It’s a testament to the enduring relevance of Goethe and Hafis, whose works continue to inspire and challenge readers today. Their shared humanism, their love of language, and their profound insights into the human condition speak across cultures. The Goethe-Hafis-Denkmal is more than just a monument. It’s an invitation to dialogue, a celebration of cultural exchange, and a quiet space for contemplation in the heart of Weimar.