On Gothic Cathedrals and Contemporary Science

Abstract

The gothic cathedral is a spectacular achievement of the European Middle Ages. Architecturally, these buildings incorporated revolutionary innovations both in the aesthetics of their design and in their construction. Comparing them to the earlier Romanesque cathedrals, one can observe that the semicircular window arches were substituted with pointed ones. Underneath, the entire weight distribution of the building changed: instead of massive walls, the weight-bearing structures became the buttresses supporting the walls from the outside. This allowed the walls to become much lighter and the buildings higher. Large windows were inserted in non–weight-bearing areas, creating light-filled interior space. Furthermore, fitting the windows with stained glass created interiors where colored light complemented the architecture and highlighted the interior textures (1). Fig. 1 shows one of the northern windows of the Chartres cathedral in France, made in the 13th century. The cathedral was rebuilt in the gothic style after a fire which had destroyed most of the former Romanesque church, and it was consecrated in 1260 by the King of France, Louis IX (who later was canonized as St. Louis). The stained glass provided pictorial versions of the Biblical stories; the one shown here depicts Noah's Ark. The cathedral still has 152 of the …