Gothic Garnishes Trivia Quiz

The western facade of the Amiens Cathedral, also known as the Cathédrale Notre-Dame d'Amiens or the Cathedral of Our Lady of Amiens, was mostly constructed from 1220-1236. Wealth generated by the cultivation of woad, which was used for dying wool, contributed to the ability of the city to build the cathedral so quickly, and, because it was built so quickly, there was a uniformity of style that many Gothic cathedrals do not possess. Built during the High Gothic period in French architectural history, the Amiens Cathedral remains the tallest Gothic cathedral in France; its main spire, which is not seen from the western facade, reaches a height of almost 400 feet.

A spire is a tall pointed tapered structure that was typically placed on top of the towers of a Gothic cathedral; it is commonly topped by a finial, which is a decorative element placed at the spire's apex. Why? A tall spire makes a building really stand out, and a finial makes a spire even taller. The height is deeply symbolic. The main purpose of Gothic architecture was to let in the light of God, and the spire was meant to draw a person's attention upwards in order to make a connection between earth and heaven.

Finials on churches are usually fashioned as crosses. They are not just placed on top of spires; they can also be found on the apexes of roofs, domes, or gables.

The Amiens Cathedral was commissioned in 1220 because the earlier church on the site had burned down in 1218. This caused some concern as Amiens was an important pilgrimage destination; it held the head of John the Baptist that had been brought to the city in 1206 after being taken from Constantinople by Crusaders. So as not to lose that status, a new church had to be built quickly, but also needed to be a showcase of the city as well. Robert de Luzarches was hired as the architect and master builder of the church, which he constructed from west to east. He died in 1228, and was succeeded by Thomas de Cormont.

In medieval architecture, a pinnacle is ornamentation that is typically found at the top of a buttress or tower. It not only adds more height to the building - depending on where it has been placed - but is also adds decoration; most pinnacles are intricately carved. In addition, the weight of the pinnacle helps to support buttresses and other design elements to insure that the building's load is shifted downwards.

Now spires and pinnacles can look a lot a like. The main differences seem to be size - a spire is taller - and decoration - a pinnacle has more. Like spires, pinnacles also help to draw the viewers' attention to heaven, but the design of the pinnacle can also represent power and prestige.

There is a reason why the bell towers on the Amiens Cathedral look a bit out of place. They were constructed a while later, with the shorter tower being completed in 1366 in the Rayonnant Gothic style, and the taller tower finally finished in 1402. It appears that by the time the towers were completed the city's wealth was waning. In addition, styles had changed, and the High Gothic Flamboyant style architecture, which was more elaborate, was used to decorate the taller tower.

Bell towers were a key design element on a Gothic cathedral. The bells served an important function as a call to worship or prayer, depending on the day and time. They were also used for other occasions, as warnings of danger or announcements of weddings or funerals. Their height helped make the church stand out, and, depending on the decoration, provided an outward sign of the wealth and artistic skills possessed by the church and the members of the community. Finally, bell towers served as another connection between earth and heaven.

Rose windows were a mainstay in the design of Gothic cathedrals. Usually circular, they were named from their similar appearance to a rose with many petals; the stained glass was decorated with several spokes that form the pattern. Rose windows were decorated with stained glass that depicted scenes from the Bible or the lives of the saints. They were used to bring light into the interior of the cathedral, which symbolized the spiritual light of God, and the circular design represented eternity.

Three rose windows, located on the south, north, and west facades, are found at the Amiens Cathedral. The original rose window on the western facade is believed to have been replaced with one in the Flamboyant Gothic style in the early 1500s, and was designed by then master mason Pierre Tarisel. Unlike most rose windows, the center is decorated with three roosters, said to have been modeled from the coat of arms of Robert de Cocquerel, the window's donor. It is called the Rose of the Sea.

The Gallery of Kings was comprised of twenty-two statues - each about 3.75 meters tall - that date back to the original construction of Amiens Cathedral. Although they are life sized, the figures are not well proportioned; they have big heads and short limbs. It is not certain exactly which kings they are supposed to represent. Some sources theorize that they were meant to symbolize kings from the Old Testament, while others say they are French kings.

In French architecture this type of decoration is usually called a Gallery of Statues, and is very common in Gothic buildings. Similar galleries are also found in cathedrals Notre-Dame de Paris and Notre-Dame de Reims. They provide churchgoers with a visual history of Christianity, and also symbolized the connection that the monarchy in France had with the Roman Catholic Church, reminding the people of the king's divine right to rule, and driving home the fact that the right came entirely from God.

The triforium, featuring arches, columns, and a narrow walkway, existed for centuries in architecture before being utilized in Gothic cathedrals. In Roman architecture it provided a place for merchants and other people to gather for public talks. Early Christian basilicas used the triforium gallery to separate women from the men. Romanesque architects used the triforium to bring light and ventilation into the building, and to provide stability to the walls. It was placed on the inside of the building.

In Gothic architecture the triforium became more highly decorative with pointed arches that helped to draw one's attention to the heavens. Although some sources claim that the triforium was only used on the inside of a building, it is on the outside at Amiens Cathedral. Apparently the architects found other ways to distribute the weight of the walls, opting for a feature that would bring in yet more light. Some sources call the triforium at Amiens Cathedral the Lower Gallery.

Parishioners were typically welcomed into Gothic cathedrals by three very highly decorated portals or doors. It was customary to decorate the portals with biblical scenes that would help teach people who were mostly illiterate about the events in the Bible. Why three doors? They represented the Christian concept of the Trinity.

The center portal of Amiens Cathedral represents Christ, while the right portal features the Virgin Mary. The left portal, called St. Fermin's portal, shows scenes from his life. St. Fermin was a missionary who became the first bishop of Amiens. It is believed that he brought Christianity to Amiens, but was martyred for his beliefs sometime around 303 AD. By the early Middle Ages he became the city's patron saint, and an abbey was founded in his name by 1085. This gave the city of Amiens high status on the pilgrimage route, which over time led to the construction of the Amiens Cathedral that stands today.

In Gothic architecture an archivolt is a series of bands that decorated arched doors or windows. Structurally, the bands made the doorway or window seem taller; figuratively, the sculptures on archivolts serve once again to teach uneducated parishioners about biblical people and events. It is believed that at one time these images were enhanced with colors, which must have made the stories even more compelling. Some art historians call the the sculptures a sermon made in stone.

The central door on the western facade of Amiens Cathedral is called the Portal of the Last Judgement. Scenes depicted here are pretty graphic, and show vices and virtues, with both angels and demons separating the blessed and the damned. Those saved are led to Heaven, while those who are damned are taken to Hell. Eight rows of archivolts decorate the Portal of the Last Judgement. Each stone, or voussoir, of the archivolt shows a different figure who is somehow connected to the story. Many of the figures appear to be angels.

The cover image provides a close up view of both the tympanum which shows the Last Judgement, along with the small statues that make up the archivolt. The intricacy of the carvings is amazing.

A trumeau was used in Gothic architecture as a pillar or post that divided a large doorway. While a trumeau provided important structural support, in Gothic architecture it was also highly decorated and could even contain sculpted figures.

In the case of the trumeau in the central doorway of the western facade of Amiens Cathedral, a sculpted figure of Christ is seen. Called the Beau Dieu, or beautiful God, it was perhaps meant to give people who had just studied the carvings over the Portal of the Last Judgement some reassurance. Christ appears to be giving a blessing to those who enter, while trampling both a lion and a dragon. On either side of the doorway one can see beautiful carvings of the twelve disciples.

The trumeau of the left doorway is decorated with a statue of St. Fermin, and the right doorway trumeau is decorated with a statue of the Virgin Mary.

In Gothic architecture, a tympanum was the triangular-shaped decoration found over the lintel of the doorway. Elaborately carved in Gothic churches, it provided another opportunity to tell a story from the Bible.

The doorway on the right of the western facade was dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Its trumeau displays a glorious statue of her holding the infant Jesus. Depicted on the top tier of the tympanum of this doorway is the Coronation of the Virgin. She is seated on a throne to Christ's left on the upper scene, while angels place a crown on her head. The middle tier of the tympanum shows her death and assumption to heaven, and the lower tier contains images of Old Testament figures.