medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
From: Jim Bugslag <[log in to unmask]>
> John James once showed me the vault of one of the curious chambers up at
roof level between the chevet chapel roofs of Chartres Cathedral. It is
formed of a single stone, a complex irregular octagon, with its sides rising
to a central peak. It must be 10 or 12 feet across in either direction. At
the time, I marvelled how they managed to get it up there and set it in place.
or how they got it to the site in the first place --sounds like a CartLoad,
huge in size and, given that 150+lb/cubic foot density of limestone, weight.
>I'm wondering now whether it was carved on site or at the quarry.
i'm wondering *why* they chose to roof these little chambers (whose purpose is
not at all clear --"hermitages" perhaps?) with monolithic stones, when there
were other alternatives just as effective and *so* much easier to realise.
think: the kitchen of Fontevrault
http://vrcoll.fa.pitt.edu/medart/image/France/fontevrault-new/Kitchen/Fontevrault-kitchen2-s.jpg
or the 12th c. South tower of the cathedral itself
http://www.formonline.se/kyrkor/Chartres/CharExtSyd.html
>Either way, it must have been a staggering task to transport it.
yes.
yes, it was.
c
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