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What do the two giant spiral columns of the Karlskirche represent?
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The two giant spiral columns of the Karlskirche serve a dual symbolic purpose. Their spiral reliefs are decorated with narratives glorifying the life of St. Charles Borromeo, the church's patron saint. Simultaneously, the columns serve as a monument to the emperor, alluding to the "pillars of Hercules," which were the emblem of Charles VI. Architecturally, these freestanding columns were designed in the manner of Trajan’s Column in Rome and were inspired by reconstructions of the Temple of Solomon in Jerusalem.123