General Timeline: 509 BC -- Traditional date of founding of Roman Republic BC -- Periclean Age in Athens BC -- Life of Alexander the Great BC -- Rome beats Carthage in the First Punic War Rome acquires Spain 2nd Century BC -- Rome dominates Asia Minor and Egypt 50 BC -- Julius Caesar establishes Roman oppidum near Amiens -- Samarobriva BC -- Julius Caesar dictator of Rome 27 BC - 14 AD -- Emperor Augustus Ca. 30 AD -- Crucifixion of Jesus 1st century AD -- Spread of Christianity in Greece and Asia Minor AD -- Persecution of the Christians in Roman Empire 313 AD -- Edict of Milan by Constantine legalizes Christian practice Ca. 350 AD -- St. Firmin of Spain converts Amiens, later killed by Viking raiders 410 AD -- Rome sacked by Visigoths 455 AD - Rome sacked by Vandals 476 AD -- Western Roman Empire ends 742 or 747 AD Rule of Charlemagne -- first Roman Emperor to rule in Western Europe since Romans; protector of church Ca AD -- Viking raids cease when they become Christians – hence, beginnings of large building programs -- “birth of the Gothic.”
Vs. Arch Post and Lintel…
Arch of Titus, ca. 81 AD
Santa Sabina, Rome Basilica plan Arches on free-standing columns (arcade) Arcade: A series of arches supported by columns, piers, or pillars, either freestanding or attached to a wall to form a gallery.
Sant’Apollinare - Ravenna, Italy Consecrated 549 Aachen, Palace chapel of Charlemagne Completed 805
Durham Cathedral, Durham, England (Romanesque style)
Cruciform plan Amiens Cathedral, as seen from the air
Batalha Monastery, Portugal Notre Dame cathedra l Paris Wells Cathedral, England Amiens cathedra l Amiens, France
France, Important Gothic Sites, ca. 1130’s-1230’s Amiens, Cathedral of Notre- Dame, begun ca. 1220, architects: Robert De Luzarches, Thomas De Cormont, Renaud De Cormont
Bird’s eye view of the cathedral in the city; view from the Somme River
What does a Gothic cathedral need to do? --Serve as an administrative center --A space for the liturgy and performance of Catholic offices --Place to put relics and a path to structure the viewing for pilgrims --A way to channel the movement of congregation and processions --Palace of the Queen of Heaven (the Virgin Mary)
Cathedra – literal seat of the Bishop, but also signifies the Cathedral is the Bishop’s church
Pilgrimage site: Head of John the Baptist, brought back by crusaders from Constantinople, 1206
What is “Gothic”? Elevation of a Gothic church or cathedral
What is “Gothic”? Pointed arches (why important?) Flying buttresses – mean thinner walls Rib vaults – high ceilings and use of a module plan Elaborate decoration
Apse /
Why Gothic?
View looking across to south flank of nave
How to build the Gothic?
Interior of Henry VII chapel, Westminster Abbey Ca Fan vaults
50 local feet 30 feet
Height of nave to capitals of vaulting shafts: 110 local feet. Total height of nave: 144 feet.