|
And who the examples of asymmetry are numerous:
-contrary to a first, superficial impression of harmonious balance, the towers
are not identical, the left –south- one being of greater volume; the main,
central portal is of course larger than the other two, but looking at these you
notice that they are dissimilar, since for example the one on the left boasts a
gable absent from that one the right. Important is the cluster of problems
concerning the GALLERY OF KINGS, also asymmetrical since ( discounting the four
standing forward on pillars) the left section counting eight kings, the central
section nine and the right section only seven. YOU AR LOOKING at 19th
century replicas here since the originals (fragments were discovered in 1977 and
are exhibited in the muse de Cluny) were smashed during the revolution. But the
Revolutionaries could count and took the royal statues as representatives of the
French monarchy, rather than as the church claimed the Kings of Juda, of whose
there were some 15 but not 28 as here. Specialists affirm that the extra 13
figures were of royal race eve though they did not actually reign. Still other
experts doubt this simple explanation. They argue that 28 is the number of days
in the lunar month whose cycle was vital, for the cult of ISIS, known to have
flourished in secret in medieval Paris. Indeed, the theory has been advanced
that Notre Dame is a book of hermetic or esoteric knowledge. Anything to do with
these masons chiseling away in their lodges below? One of Notre Dame’s rose
windows shows Mary dressed in green and red rather than in the usual blue.
Another perplexing case of asymmetry is posed by the cathedral floor plan.
Contrary to those printed in several guides, it is not straight but veers
slightly off the north, as is visible when you stand inside, to the right
(south) of the main altar, and look westwards to the main portals. Various
explanations have been given: as building progressed from choir to nave, the
ground may have become more soggy; a property owner might have refused to cede a
parcel of land; the cruciform layout of the church better represents Christ on
the cross with his twist, since his head was not upright but lolled to one side;
humankind should never attempt to imitate God’s perfection, so, out of humility,
asymmetry would have been built into the design. Viewed from the spot indicated
above, the slightly curving sweep of the nave is not predictable, but suggests
infinity, eternity; there may also been some occult meaning, or perhaps the
builders didn’t care about symmetry. Mr.Gilette doesn’t know the answer to this
enigma: please feel free to choose the one you like best, or to invent one of
your own!
THE SAINT-ANNE PORTAL. More mysteries (as well as majesty)
The date of the oldest part (lintel and tympanum has been variously estimated
1140 and 1175. Clearly, the somewhat rigid Romanesque solemnity of Mary and
Jesus pre-date the much more fluid Gothic representation of other portals—but by
how much? And who are the bishop (standing left) and the monarch (right
kneeling) who flank the Virgin just behind the two angels, closest to her?
Tradition has it that they are respectively Maurice de Sully and the then
reigning king Louis VII, in whose hands is a scroll announcing to Mary and Jesus
the decision to build Notre-Dame. A current theory suggests that these
personages may be the 6th century Bishop St.Germain and king
Childebert announcing the construction of Saint-Germain des Prés.(see stroll 2
stop 1)
.
Folder no 6 containing stroll number 6 of Pierre Gilette’s series about Paris
through the ages edited by Media-Cartes They are still obtainable by mailing to
Armedv@aol.com |
