Archives

Zodiac / Labours of the Months

Zodiac / Labours of the Months

Chartres, west side, left door, archivolt (bottom to top description)

• First archivolt (inner): Aquarius, March with pruning vines.

• Second archivolt (outer): Scorpio, December with feasting, Sagittarius.

• Christ is seen in the upper left corner.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #Archivolt #calendar of months #cathedral #Detail #exterior #Left #west side #zodiac

Chartres West Exterior Slides 067

Chartres West Exterior Slides 067

Chartres, west side, left door

• Archivolts - zodiac alternating with the tasks for each month

† First - INNER
• March with pruning vines,
• Aquarius [mostly broken]

† OUTER
• December with feasting, Scorpio.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #Archivolt #calendar of months #cathedral #date estimate #Detail #exterior #Left #west side #zodiac

Chartres West Exterior Slides 080

Chartres West Exterior Slides 080

Chartres, north side, left portal

TYMPANUM
• Adoration of the Magi

INNER ARCH

• First archivolt: ten angels, lowest two on dragons, the rest on clouds
• Second archivolt: four foolish virgins on left, four foolish on the right
• Third archivolt: The four cardinal virtues and equivalent sins are on the left:
† Prudence (open book) with Folly underneath (woman eating a pebble);
† Justice (scales) with Injustice (falsify scales);
† Strength (mail coat) with Weakness beneath;
† Temperence (dove) with Intemperence (uncovering the breast)

• Fourth archivolt: Twelve queens bearing scrolls that at one time bore their names; these are the fruits of the spirit as per Galatians 5:22-23.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #10 virgins #7 gifts of the spirit #Chartres #france #TCS-photo #Archivolt #cathedral #date estimate #Detail #exterior #Left #north side #virtues and vices #virtuous woman #wise and foolish virgins

Chartres West Exterior Slides 074

Chartres West Exterior Slides 074

Chartres, north side, left portal

TYMPANUM
• Adoration of the Magi and then warned not to return to Herod.

LINTEL:
• Left: Nativity
• Right: Angel appears to shepherds.

JAMB FIGURES

• Left: Isaiah (prophet of Christ's coming, now headless), and then Annunciation (Gabriel treading on devil; Mary treading on serpent).
• Right Daniel (another prophet of Christ's coming, outermost) with the Visitation nearer the door (Mary on a burning bush, symbol of the Immaculate Conception and Elizabeth in the middle).

INNER ARCH

• First archivolt: ten angels, lowest two on dragons, the rest on clouds
• Second archivolt: four foolish virgins on left, four foolish on the right
• Third archivolt: bottom on each side contain the other two virgins for a total of ten.

• Third, continued: The four cardinal virtues and equivalent sins are on the left:
† Prudence (open book) with Folly underneath (woman eating a pebble);
† Justice (scales) with Injustice (falsify scales);
† Strength (mail coat)
† Temperence (dove) with Intemperence (uncovering the breast)

• Third, continued: On the right are the three theological virtues and equivalent sins:
† Faith (chalice receiving blood of the Lamb) with Infidelity (eyes bandaged);
† Hope (looks to heaven) with Despair (stabs self);
† Charity (clothes beggar) with Avarice (hoarding gold).

• To provide balance, a fourth virtue is added:
† Humility (dove) with Pride (falling headlong)

• Fourth archivolt: Twelve queens bearing scrolls that at one time bore their names; these are the fruits of the spirit as per Galatians 5:22-23.

Album: Chartres-Cathedral

Categories: Chartres-Cathedral

Tags: #7 gifts of the spirit #Adoration of the Magi #Chartres #Elizabeth #france #Immaculate Conception #Jamb figures #Mary #Nativity #Saint Elizabeth #TCS-photo #Visitation #angels #beatitudes #cathedral #date estimate #exterior #Left #lintel #north side #tympanum #virtuous woman