Gothic Cathedrals

When viewing a cathedral, one tends to see them as magnificent, sometimes stark monuments erected to worship God in a grand setting. This was indeed a major purpose of the cathedral. It is easy to overlook other functions and aspects of cathedral life which, to the fourteenth century mind would be almost as important. Cathedrals trained and educated junior clergy, they housed and accommodated pilgrims and other important visitors, they had complex financial relationships with their other cities in which they stood, they were centers of excellence for craftsmen and inspired innovation. “The cathedral reveals medieval symbolism, technology, theology, and knowledge, and reflects the changing political, social, and economic forces and conflicts surrounding its construction” (Humanities, Nov/Dec95, Vol. 16 Issue 6).

Socially and politically, the cathedral played an important role both within itself, as a school for junior

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Denis, and continuing with the lives of confessors and martyrs as exemplars of behavior and as intercessors for mankind flanking the Last Judgment on the south transept of Chartres” (Humanities, Nov/Dec95, Vol. They played major political and economical role of the region, through it major needs and interaction with the people, guilds, government, Pope in Rome. Notre-Dame d’Amiens is the largest cathedral in France it is double that size of the Notre-Dame de Paris! It is also thought to be one of the best examples of Rayonnant style of gothic architecture.

Yet another great example of the cathedrals of that period is the Notre-Dame of Chartres cathedral. NOTRE-DAME OF PARIS AND THE ANTICIPATION OF GOTHIC, Murray, Stephen, Art Bulletin, Mar98, Vol. They represent an unforgettable tour to the past through the stone and glass. AS the most cathedrals at that time it was dedicated to Virgin Mary. Stained glass windows was the big part of the cathedral, it gave the interior unforgettable look with the dim lights of different colors. BUILDING CHARTRES, Avrich, Jane, Harper's Magazine, May2000, Vol.

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Approximate Word count = 1331
Approximate Pages = 5 (250 words per page double spaced)

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