Astronomical Clocks and the Evolution of Ancient Cosmology in Gothic Architecture

Abstract

This paper offers a review of the location and imagery of astronomical clocks. The zodiacs are highlighted as religious symbols taken from antiquity and transferred into the Middle Ages. The clocks contain imagery similar to other religious spaces such as cathedrals and Books of Hours, which imbues them with meaning while linking them to sacred spaces. The ancient lares created a sacred space outside temples. A comparison of them to the astronomical clocks suggests that the clocks also create a sacred space based on location and iconography. This paper will argue that astronomical clocks extended the religious sphere through their placement in public spaces.