The Cathedral of Light or Lichtdom was a main aesthetic feature of the Nazi Party rallies in Nuremberg from 1934 to 1938. Designed by architect Albert Speer, it consisted of 152 anti-aircraft searchlights, at intervals of 12 metres, aimed skyward to create a series of vertical bars surrounding the audience. The Cathedral of Light was documented in the Nazi propaganda film Festliches Nürnberg, released in 1937.
Speer had been commissioned by Adolf Hitler to build a stadium for the annual party rallies, but the stadium could not be completed in time for the 1933 rally. As a stopgap, he used 152 ant—aircraft search lights pointed upwards around the assembly area.
Fast forward to 2021 and we have Joe Biden’s “Virtual“ inauguration. 56 flags, highlighted by 56 individual spotlights will take the place of American citizens on the National Mall.
Creepy? Yes.
Coincidence?