Martin Luther across the centuries

A tour of the "Luther! 95 treasures - 95 people" show in Wittenberg begins with exhibits depicting piety in Luther's day and age, including this 14th century sculpture of the madonna. Back then, being Catholic meant living in a world ruled by Mary and the saints, expected to protect and stand by believers. Luther, on the other hand, said there is only Christ, and you turn to him directly.

Probes have revealed that this mobile box with drawers that contained quills and ink, a knife, wax and a seal most probably belonged to Martin Luther. About two and a half thousand letters written by Luther survived the centuries, but it is unclear how many he penned at his "wooden laptop."

Luther and England's King Henry VIII were at each other's throats with various argumentative papers for years The pope granted the King the title "Defender of the Faith"- and likely regretted it later, when Henry led the country into the English Reformation. British monarchs still bear the title today, however.

This timekeeper, called a Nuremberg Egg, is one of the show's most valuable historical exhibits. It belonged to Philipp Melanchton, one of Luther's best friends. The theologist and humanist was also known as "Praeceptor Germaniae," teacher of Germany. Dated 1530, the above watch, small enough to fit in your hand, is the oldest pocket watch in the world.

Everyday objects from the late Middle Ages are also on display, like this piggy bank that was found in an archeological dig in Saxony. It ties in with Luther's background: his dad was a well-to-do entrepreneur in the local copper mines.

Sweden's King Gustav II Adolf wore this elk hide coat in the Battle of Lützen in 1632 when he was fatally injured - note the slash and bullet hole that are still visible. The Swedish King's involvement in the Thirty Years' War prevented a Habsburg victory, and indirectly secured the existence of Protestantism in Germany.

Much-beloved children's book author Astrid Lindgren grew up in a parsonage. Whenever one of her fictive characters, a boy by the name of Karlsson on the Roof, didn't agree with something, he would say, like Martin Luther: "That is a secular business." The Protestant culture of helping others is evident in another character, young Emil of Lönneberga.

Sophie Scholl was active in a non-violent anti-Nazi resistance group. Caught handing out leaflets, the Protestant student was sentenced to death. The exhibit displays a document she wrote in her prison cell on which she wrote the word 'freedom' on the back. A free Christian human being is one of the strongest images from Luther's life.

Michael King - that was Martin Luther King's legal given name. But his father added the 'Luther' to honor the great German reformer. In 1966, the famous US Baptist minister and civil rights activist taped his list of demands to the door of Chicago's City Hall, denouncing mortgage and loan discrimination, urging tenants rights, quality education and job access.

Steve Jobs was adopted and raised in a reformed family. Co-founder and longtime head of Apple, Jobs is one of the most well-known personalities in the computer business. He saw himself as part of the Protestant work ethic tradition, which upheld productivity, diligence and determination - enough to add Jobs to the Wittenberg exhibition.

The above painting, "The Golden Age" by Lucas Cranach the Elder, shows couples and pairs of animals, frolicking in a kind of paradise - not really a Christian motif. The sovereign who commissioned the painting expected the Reformation to be the start of a new era. The painting is the last exhibit in the show that runs through November 13, 2017.