Kunigunde and the Magic Money Bowl - Bamberg
In the Bamberg Cathedral are the graves of the holy couple the Emperor Heinrich II and Empress Kunigunde (Kunegunde, Cunigunde). Carved into the tomb is a picture of the Empress Kunigunde paying the artisans who had worked on St. Stephans Church (Stephanskirche). It was the custom, for a bowl to be put out with the money in coin that was due to the Guild, and the workmen would each take out the amount that was due them. But among the craftsmen there was one evil dissatisfied man, who took more than his fair share, so that there was never enough money to go around. This went on for a long time and no one could find the thief. One day Kunigunde (Kunegunde, Cunigunde) herself appeared among the workmen, and held out the bowl from which each took his payment. The thief too reached into the bowl, and like so many times before, took more coins than were his due. But as soon as his fingers closed around the coins his hand began to burn so that he flung himself away from Kunigunde, his screams echoing from the nearby walls. He turned and ran as fast as he could, and when he reached home, and could finally force his clenched fingers apart, he found he held only one coin in his hand.