medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
[log in to unmask] wrote:
>I am certainly interested in numinous phenomena associated with
specific locations,
there's another one, not nearly as strong, and maybe just notable because it
is the only place i was ever able to find in the choir ambulatory where one
could simply *sit* quietly, away from the obnoxious ministrations of the
Cult.
it is in the South choir aisle, more or less directly across from the N-D du
Pilier chapel. there is an obnoxious light just above the steps
there, but it is (or was) usually off.
one rather dark winter's day i was sitting there, legs crossed, hands in my
lap, eyes closed, when i felt someone come up and drop a coin into my open
palm.
*almost* changed my mind about tourists.
only a franc, alas.
>but the spot you mention is not above the Puits des Saints Forts, which
probably resides under the north choir arcade somewhere.
thanks, Jim.
yep, that would be quite a distance away.
>all of the minor altars in the cathedral were destroyed in the 17th century.
It seems that some amount of hostile reaction to this development was
anticipated, so the cathedral was close one night, and
the next day, when it was opened, the chapter fairies had done their work very
thoroughly.
interesting story. like to know the Source, if that information isn't
proprietary.
for my future book on _Chartres as a Ruin: A History of Vandalism_.
>As near as I can figure it, there are two likely associations for your spot.
One is the original location of the relic of St Anne's head,
well, as i said, it did make the hair on my neck tingle, so that might be it.
>The other possibility is an altar, I believe, to the Virgin, one of two
founded by St Louis in the north transept in 1259
the wall just there *is* quite black with, i've always assumed, candle soot.
wonder what those "altars" looked like.
>Margot Fassler's forthcoming study of the 12th-century liturgical texts
should be enlightening,
understatement, of course. everyone on this list with an interest in
such matters, at chartres and elsewhere, should keep a lookout for this piece
of work.
>but if they survive, the later ones should certainly be mined.
what, all that "late stuff" i went through in the archives in the sixties and
dismissed as of no value because it was so, well, late?
*that* stuff??
*NOW* you tell me.
best from here,
christopher
**********************************************************************
To join the list, send the message: join medieval-religion YOUR NAME
to: [log in to unmask]
To send a message to the list, address it to:
[log in to unmask]
To leave the list, send the message: leave medieval-religion
to: [log in to unmask]
In order to report problems or to contact the list's owners, write to:
[log in to unmask]
For further information, visit our web site:
http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/medieval-religion.html
|