Cathedral Rose Window Meaning

As you may or may not know a gothic church when viewed from above is shaped like a cross.

Cathedral rose window meaning.

Rose window also called wheel window in gothic architecture decorated circular window often glazed with stained glass. Designed by cathedral master artisan rowan lecompte and fabricated by dieter goldkuhle the 26 foot window celebrates the majesty and mystery of creation. If the great west rose window of chartres cathedral were to be folded down on a hinge at the base of the wall it would cover the labyrinth exactly. It dates to c.

Scattered examples of decorated circular windows existed in the romanesque period santa maria in pomposa italy 10th century. Only toward the middle of the 12th century however did the idea appear of making a rich decorative motif out of a round window. This relationship signifies the link between our journey of life and the last judgement which is the theme of this window. The west window over the main entrance depicts the creation while the rose window in the north transept illustrates the dormition and assumption of virgin mary.

This type of window is called a rose window or a wheel. The term rose window was not used before the 17th century and according to the oxford english dictionary among other authorities comes from the english flower name rose. The west rose window. Every detail of the rose windows was carefully planned to give a message to onlookers.

Western rose window with the gallery of kings below. But the cathedral also reflects the twentieth century. There s actually 3 rose windows but because the sun moves in the southern sky it s the south rose window that s lit up by the sun during the day thus casting it s remarkable glow into the transept of notre dame. Most notable are the rose windows.

The name wheel window is often applied to a window divided by simple spokes radiating from a central boss or. Rose window is often used as a generic term applied to a circular window but is especially used for those found in gothic cathedrals and churches. Rose window if you ve ever visited a cathedral you might have noticed a dramatic circular stained glass window dominating one of the walls. The west rose window is the largest of the cathedral s three rose windows measuring 15 42 metres in diameter.

The windows are divided into segments by stone mullions and tracery. These windows were made to tell a story and we ll focus on the north rose window specifically to explain how this is done.