Abstract A reflection on religious monuments and their implements in their connection to their faith and use of prayer. This reflection uses Christian, Islamic, and Jewish religions as examples of study in the Medieval era. Welding Sacer and Profanus Religion is sacred, the cradle of the sacer, the faith that we intertwine within our reality, our profanus. It’s within our churches, our cathedrals, our temples, our synagogues, or our mosques that we connect the sacer and the profanus, the home of our prayers. Among the diversity of religions and beliefs there brings a multitude of holy sectors, each with their own composition of devoted art and architecture, their own contrivance to communicate and praise the godly. The construction of …show more content…
A customarily symbolic creature used was the peacock, another sign of immortality, because of the myth that a peacock’s flesh doesn’t rot. This is displayed on the Sarcophagus of Saint Theodore (6th century A.D.), where two peacocks are placed on either side of an emblem containing the symbols chi and rho, the first two letters of Christ, in a circle signifying completion (Soltes, 11, 21:20). Near the end of the 11th century, we see the style of Romanesque architecture transfigure into what is known as the Gothic era, introduced by Abbot Suger during his rebuilding of the Abbey of St. Denis. Looking at the basilica of St. Sernin de Toulouse (1080-1120), named after the bishop who was apprehended by the former Pagan priest when Christianity was illegal, we can see the basilica is itself in shape of the cross. There are also five aisles, to suggest the five wounds of Christ, five entryways (Soltes, 12, 3:25). The most notable difference between a Romanesque church and a Gothic one can be seen in the arches. Gothic arches, ogives they’re named, are pointed instead of rounded, giving a new criss-cross pattern, as exampled in the Chartres Cathedral (12th century) (Soltes, 12, 10:40). New patterns can also be found in the buttressing, where instead of holding the framework directly through the walls, the Gothic structure works from the roof and down as if flying away, coining the term the flying buttresses (Soltes, 12, 11:15). This sort of buttressing is competent for
Religion has played a huge role in the history of the world of architecture. We can get a deeper look in the minds and attitudes of people when we look at their beliefs – specifically their religion. But even though religion played a huge role in the approach to architecture, the pursuit of beauty and power can also explain to us the approaches and the outlooks of those who built or designed buildings from the ancient world.
The most important difference found between French and English Gothic cathedrals is their differing and almost oppositional emphases on verticality or horizontality. Here the terms define what they imply – a critical focus on either height or length, which is emphasized by the features of the cathedral. For example, the French penchant for height can be found in cathedrals such as Notre- Dame. The nave vaults rise 115 feet off the ground, at the time this was considered outrageously high. The main difference that of emphasis on verticality versus horizontality, can be seen as quite oppositional in stylistic character. The opposite emphases were then enhanced by architectural features such as vertical vault shafts or uninterrupted tiers of detail.
Karen Armstrong, author of “Homo Religiosus,” claimed that without the physical rituals and traditions, religion morphed into a belief. Simply put, Armstrong argued that religion requires not only blind faith but also customs and practices that affect one’s physical and mental behaviors. It is through these rituals and taboos that the religions grows and forms, and yet also changes when deemed necessary. Additionally, Armstrong constantly compares religion to different art forms. She does this to convey the message that much like art, one must focus and study religion for lengthy periods of time to be properly understood. However, this connection also suggests that art and religion can perform an analogous role to humankind when required, as they both evolve and change when a society 's infrastructure does. Throughout her essay “Homo Religiosus,” Armstrong focuses on the similar role that both art and religion play in society to discuss her claim that religion is not just a belief, but rather has to do with changes in physical and mental behaviors that in return create change in society and the religion one needs.
With the current knowledge of humans, these matters cannot be adequately explained. Furthermore, these ideas cannot be expressed with current human language (Barbour 90). To compensate for the inability to explain the unexplainable and the lack of sufficient answers to life’s questions, Judeo-Christian religions tend to employ tangible phenomena as much as possible. The concept of sacred space is important to religions, because it offers a tangible representation of the religion for its believers. This can help to humanize the supernatural and the concept of spirituality. Sacred space helps to provide a structure for religions, as it closes the gaps of understanding of concepts that are difficult to grasp with human understanding.
Gargoyles also include other grotesque carvings associated with Gothic. It says that flying buttresses are stone arches that carry most of the weight of the roof, so the massive thick walls are not needed. Tall spires reached high in the sky to the heavens and over took the landscape. The cathedral Notre Dame de Paris began in 1163. It took artisans centuries to complete.
The Romanesque and Gothic style cathedral shared the same floor plan—the Latin cross. Despite this similarity, the design and structure of these cathedrals was quite different. Romanesque style churches employed a heavy stone structure to withstand the force of the building’s height, made possible by stone vaulting. The walls were thick and contained small windows, if at all. Gothic style cathedrals were so large they physically dominated the town. Gothic style cathedrals could reach even greater heights because the round arch, used in the Romanesque cathedral was replaced by the emergence of the pointed arch. Each of these were made of heavy stone, but the pointed arch was much more successful because the weight of the building was thrust downward into the foundation, instead of
This paper will examine Temple Mount with Dome of the Rock in the Old City of erusalem as an example of the layered religious landscape shared between biblical traditions b racing its significance forthe Jews and Muslim through centuries. This will reveal the utmost ignificance of the Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock for preserving self-identity for Israeli nd Palestinians as well as will illustrate how the sacred place turned out to be a stumbling hat demonstrates inadequacy, intolerance, and spite of the contemporary followers ofthe large Abrahamic religions. As stated in Encyclopedia of Religion, the very known to be a ersonification and symbol ofthe "sanctity of place of the religionsthat
The shift brought the transformation of thick columns to much thinner and “lighter” columns (Blankenbehler). However, before this architectural movement can begin, Abbot Suger struggled to reconstruct and synthesize the style of the ancient building with his ideas of modern designs. He knew that the freshness of these new designs would bring beauty and spaciousness. He wanted people to be amazed at the transformation of the once small, but soon to be large and wide feel of the basilica. To create the wide feel, Abbot Suger issued the ceiling to have a complicated web of interlocked and pointed vaults. He also chose to have arches with points so that the basilica would not need thick walls to support the arch. Thick walls would make the interior look crowded and small, something Suger did not want. By having the pointed arches, those would take the weight of the ceiling and distribute the weight across rather than being pulled down. This allowed for thin and elegant looking columns, for they were able to support the ceiling because the weight of it was dispersed. He envisioned the structure to have high ceilings, which would be supported with thinner columns (Birth of the Gothic: Abbot Suger and the Ambulatory at St. Denis). Suger also brought in the idea of having tall towers so that the building would look like it was reaching for the heavens. By reaching the heavens, it brought this concept of being closer to God and reassuring the people’s
The Gothic style, dating between the 12th century and 16th century, began in France and eventually spread throughout the rest of Europe. An example of the first true Gothic church was St. Denis of Paris. Now, it is considered one of our finest artistic periods, but at the time, the term “gothic” did not exactly hold the same meaning it does today. The name came from the Goths and was used rather negatively when describing this style of architecture as they considered it to be similar to the works of the barbarians from which the name was derived.
Culture is defined as the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively. Throughout time, many different cultures have come into existence worldwide. They are often forgotten, preserved, or spread depending on those who carry it with them. It is vital that people conserve the different cultures because they are essential in remembering our past as the human race. One very important aspect of culture is that of religion. Religion has shaped the course of history from as early as 50,000 years ago. When given the opportunity to experience one of these unique religions first hand, I immediately chose Catholicism due to the fact that I have always been curious of their traditions and rituals. During my visit to Christ King Mission Church, I learned that the Catholic sanctuary actually looks similar to that of many Baptist churches, has a very formal liturgy, and shows more respect to other biblical characters than most other churches.
The entrance is similar to the westwork of St. Etienne, and is the original Early Gothic façade from before the fire in 1194. It features two towers and many windows, with the same three part vertical division made by four flat buttresses. The transept entrances are rebuilt with the rest of the church in 1194, and are much more decorated than the front façade. The rose windows are massive, with lancet windows below and to the sides. The arched portals are heavily recessed and highly decorated. The lancet windows, arches, gables, and pinnacles all point to the sky, again enhancing verticality. To enhance the building’s structural strength, Gothic architects created flying buttresses to support the exterior of the building that would become a staple in High Gothic architecture (see Fig. 7). These buttresses “fly” out from the sides of the building in a quadrant arch to resist the lateral forces pushing outwards from the wall. (Kleiner, 374). Not only do they lend structural support, but also emphasize the overall verticality and monumentality of the Cathedral. Clearly, Chartres Cathedral is the pinnacle of innovation and incorporation of elements from different eras throughout Western
Much of the architecture in the Romanesque era evolved into Gothic architecture. The Gothic era ran from the 12th century into the 16th century. There wasn’t necessarily a clean break from Romanesque to Gothic styles of architecture, but rather a gradual shift in design. The main characteristics of Gothic architecture are the pointed ribbed vaults and arches, flying buttresses and, in place of solid walls, a cluster of columns. Due to the vertical emphasis of the design, the archways could be redesigned and stretched or pointed. Four main Figure 5 – The depressed arch supported by fan vaulting at King’s College Chapel, England.
Notre-Dame of Paris is one of the most prominent cathedrals in the land of Paris and portrays many diversified Gothic characteristics. This research essay will explore the cathedral in detail while emphasizing on the influence of Gothic architecture on the cathedral. Notre-Dame of Paris bears all the structural features of a Gothic cathedral including the famous rose window. By far, the Gothic style has influenced the entire design of Notre-Dame of Pairs. If there were other influences, it would be too minor to be taken noticed of. The construction began in year 1163. Being a significant building to the locals, she bore important responsibilities. Eugene Viollet-le-Duc played an important role in the cathedral’s restoration.
With these great gothic style building appearing in Europe, there had to be architects behind the projects. Some of the most famous architects of the early gothic (1140-1194), high gothic (1194-1300), and late gothic (1300-1500) are, Jean D’Orbais, Jean Le Loup, Gaucher De Reims, Bernard De Soissons, and Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis. The patron, and client, for the first Gothic style building - Abbot Suger, wrote his views on the symbolism, at St. Denis, built between (1140-1144), but did not record the architect’s name. Jean D’Orbais' designed the first tracery rose window, and was a major milestone in church construction. Considering we don't
We’re looking at the difference between Romanesque cathedrals and Gothic cathedrals. I know you all are so excited to learn what a flying buttress is because I know I was. Spoiler alert, it is nothing like what it sounds like. It’s much more cool and innovative, which is what these two periods were all about. Taking knowledge from the past and improving it.