The shrine of the Three Kings in Cologne Cathedral is the most significant of the surviving medieval reliquaries. It is distinguished by its gold-plated embossed figures, colored enamels, gemstone-studded filigree, and an unparalleled abundance and quality of over three hundred ancient gems. With the transfer of the relics of the Three Kings to Cologne in 1164, the Cologne Cathedral became one of the major pilgrimage sites of the West. Therefore, it is not surprising that the creation of the reliquary between 1190 and 1220 involved the greatest material effort. Leading goldsmith workshops were involved in the shrine's construction, including that of Nicholas of Verdun, whose prophet figures are among the masterpieces of Western medieval sculpture. A significant contribution was made by King Otto IV, who is also depicted on the front of the shrine. In the new publication by Rolf Lauer, the head of the Cologne Cathedral construction archive, the history and art history of the shrine are discussed, and the goldsmith works are presented in color photographs by cathedral photographers Reinhard Matz and Axel Schenk.