LDS Scripture Commentary / Photos: Chartres Cathedral
Chartres, north side, center portal
INNER ARCH
• First archivolt: twelve angels
• Second archivolt: Prophets
• Third archivolt: Jesse Tree
• Fourth archivolt: Jesse Tree continues
• Fifth archivolt: Prophets
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†North side, lancets, left to right: True versus false sovereigns (restored)
• Window 145D - North side, near right lancet: Solomon over Jeroboam, who worships golden calf (wise king over the fool who worshipped idols and abandoned the LORD).
• Window 145E - North side, far right lancet: Aaron above Pharoah, covered by the Red Sea (true priesthood and power over the false).
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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.
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Chartres, North side, right portal
INNER ARCH
• First archivolt: twelve angels bearing sun, moon, and stars.
• Second archivolt: life of Sampson
† Samson carries off the gates of Gaza.
• Third archivolt: lives of Esther and Judith (prefiguring Mary) on left and right respectively
Left:
† Esther kneels before the king (note parallels with Judith, opposite);
† Mordecai sends messenger with new degree permitting the Jews to defend themselves if attacked.
• Fourth archivolt: Tobias, son of Tobit, who restored vision to his father as Christ would to Israel.
Left:
† Tobit speaks with his wife;
† Tobit sends son with letter to Gabelus;
† Tobit blesses son before departure, with angel watching;
† Tobias travels with dog (fidelity) and angel watching;
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Chartres, north side, center, night illumination
JAMB FIGURES
Left:
• Melchizedek - wearing crown, with bread and wine (which he gave Abraham; prefigures the Eucharist). Lamb beneath.
• Abraham - looks up at angel halting the sacrifice of Isaac. Ram beneath.
• Moses - with brazen serpent on the pole, symbol of Christ's crucifixion. Golden calf beneath.
• Samuel - sacrifices a lamb.
• King David - carries instruments of the Passion, which his Psalm 22 foretold. Beneath lion of Judah.
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Chartres, north side, center portal
JAMB FIGURES
• Elijah (Far Right) - on his chariot of fire. Beneath Elisha.
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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.
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Chartres, north side, center portal
INNER ARCH
• Eighth archivolt: Creation and Fall [bottom to top]
(4) Creation of plants
(5) Creation of sun and moon
(6) Creation of birds and fish.
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• Statues: OT figures, but identity unknown. The right pillar has two statues, one of Saint Potentian, archbishop of Sens and missionary to the Gauls, and Saint Modesta, daughter of Roman governor Quirinus, an early martyr of Chartres.
GLS: Perhaps Samuel on the right?
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