Gargoyles

Ominous and leering, ugly gargoyles were meant to drive away evil spirits, although one cannot deny that their presence may also meant to add to the mysticism that was religion.

Placed along the rooflines of buildings, each gargoyle’s location is explained by its function, that is, water spouts. If it rained, the water would travel through their bodies and drop onto people below as if spitting or drooling on them. Unfortunately, this convenient function has led to erosion and damage to many of the statues, and it is not uncommon for them to be replaced or recarved.

Gargoyle at Notre-Dame

No two gargoyles are identical. Most come in the forms of mystical creatures, although the lion was particularly popular as well as human figures.

Although the exact purpose of gargoyles is not known, there are a few likely functions beyond serving as a gutter:

1. Representation of devils and evil spirits bound to the church in retribution.
2. Scaring away of devils, etc. to keep believers safe on the inside.
3. Or, pure Medieval fascination with monsters.

Stained Glass and the Rose Window

Although adding glass windows to the structures of the cathedrals would prove challenging (and still problematic even today) with its inability to hold the weight of the ceiling, there can nevertheless be no doubt of the sacred atmosphere incited by stained glass, not only because the focus of many of the pictures are stories in the Old Testament and the lives of Christ, his apostles, saints, and martyrs, but also because of the amazing light shows.

To summarize the main points of windows:

• The first Gothic stained glass appeared in Saint-Denis circa 1140, although colored glass has been in use since the ancient Egyptians and Romans.
• Traditionally, Medieval windows are read from the bottom to the top.
• Until the 1300s when local workshops were established, most of the glass was made by traveling glass workers.
• Physical characteristics after 1200: vibrant geometric shapes and vivid, jewel-like colors.
• These vibrant windows became the equivalent of today’s movies and television. They were just that transfixing.
• Since most people in society lived poorly and humbly, these buildings kept them in a constant state of awe.

The rose window at Saint-Denis.

Thanks to Louis IX of France, Rayonnant elements were also added on to already-existing structures. Most notably, at Saint-Denis he added transepts, which in 1250 marked the first appearance of the rose window. In true rayonnant style, the lining stone between the panes is very thin and the spandrels and triforium level are made completely from glass. Mostly rose windows are found in the backs and fronts of cathedrals. In the case of Saint-Denis, the north transept portrays the Tree of Jesse while the south rose (constructed 1260) shows the Gregorian calendar and the signs of the zodiac. These rose windows would become the models for future ones.