LDS Scripture Commentary / Photos: Chartres Cathedral
Chartres, north side, center portal
INNER ARCH
• Eighth archivolt: Creation and Fall [bottom to top]
(5) Creation of sun and moon
Note cruciform nimbus, identifying creator as Christ.
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Chartres, north side, center portal
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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Left portal, "Bay of the Martyrs"
Left jamb (L - R)
• St. Stephen (deacon's dress)
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Window 013 - Story of Saint Anthony of the Desert and Saint Paul the Anchorite (restored)
Top to bottom, left to right, including medallions.
• Row 09: Anthony visits Paul the Anchorite as a crow feeds them; Anthony studies alone in his cell.
• Row 10: The two saints celebrate mass; Anthony has vision of Paul's soul (small child) being bourne away by angels.
• Row 11: Lions help bury the body of Paul.
• Row 12: Athanasius receives Anthony's cloak in anticipation of the latter's death; his soul is carried to heaven.
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Chartres, south side, center, lintel [detail]
Beneath Christ is the resurrection. The redeemed (to Christ's right, our left) prepare for glory.
To his left, the demons take the wicked to hell. Angels above them drive them with sword and shield.
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† Window 095 - South rose: Christ in glory, after Revelation of St. John (restored, detail)
Surrounded by the four beasts and 24 elders of the apocalypse. Angels and elders hold musical instruments, censers, and vials of perfume.
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Window 064 - Noah (restored)
Top to bottom, left to right [See diagram for the proper order of reading.]
• Row 03: Giants, sons and daughters of men; God talks to Noah; Giants, sons and daughters of men.
• Row 04: Noah's three sons: Shem, Ham, and Japheth; Noah's wife and daughters-in-law.
• Row 05: Two people (perhaps walking away from the Ark?); Noah and a son build the ark; Animals begin to gather two by two.
• Row 06: Animals begin to gather two by two; Animals begin to gather two by two.
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Chartres, west side, left door
• Tympanum - Christ ascending into heaven. Angels lean down to ask the apostles "Ye men of Gallilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven?"
• Archivolts - zodiac alternating with the tasks for each month
† First - INNER (left around to right)
• April with tree blossoming, Aries
• May with falconer and horse, Taurus,
• June with mowing hay,
[peak of arch]
• March with pruning vines,
• Aquarius [mostly broken], February with warming self before fire,
• Capricorn, January with two faces.
† OUTER (left around to right)
• July with wheat cutting, Cancer,
• August with wheat threshing, Leo,
• September with treading grapes [not seen here], Virgo [not seen here]
[peak of arch]
• Sagittarius, December with feasting [can just see the feast table],
• Scorpio, November with pig slaughter,
• Libra, October with pruning fruit trees?
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