Overview
The lecture covers key architectural features and religious functions of notable historical structures: a French cathedral, the Roman Pantheon, the Greek Parthenon, and Egypt’s Karnak Temple.
French Cathedral (likely Chartres or Notre Dame)
- Housed an important relic of Mary, making it a major pilgrimage site.
- Features groin vaults, forming X-shaped intersections from barrel vaults.
- Has a clerestory (high windows) to bring light into the church interior.
- Three main doorways: center for royalty, sides for common people.
- Doorways decorated with voussoirs (wedge-shaped stones), lintels, and posts.
- Modern reinforcements added to preserve structure after centuries of use.
- Stained glass windows are prominent decorative features.
The Pantheon (Rome)
- Built by Marcus Agrippa and later modified by Trajan or Hadrian.
- Dedicated to all Roman gods; features a large central oculus in the dome for light and weight relief.
- Coffers (recessed panels) in the dome further reduce weight.
- Constructed with brickwork and concrete.
- Interior niches once held cult statues of various deities.
- Now functions as a Christian church; notable for Pentecost rose-petal tradition.
The Parthenon (Athens)
- Constructed for the goddess Athena using Doric (outside) and Ionic (inside) architectural styles.
- Doric columns have flutes and simple capitals; friezes and metopes show relief sculptures.
- Panathenaic Festival was an important event associated with the temple.
- Pediments (triangular ends) and interior friezes were richly decorated and formerly painted.
- Enclosed the cella (inner chamber) which housed Athena's statue.
Karnak Temple (Egypt)
- Built over time by multiple Egyptian kings; designed to reflect the cosmos and earth.
- Visitors enter through grand pylons into a hypostyle hall with columns resembling lotus blossoms.
- Clerestories provide interior lighting; open areas accommodate large gatherings.
- Spaces become darker and narrower deeper into the temple, ending in the holy of holies for the cult statue.
- Only priests and the king could access the most sacred areas; the public could interact via processions or through prayer niches.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Groin Vault — An intersection of two barrel vaults at right angles.
- Clerestory — High section of wall with windows for admitting light.
- Voussoirs — Wedge-shaped stones forming an arch.
- Oculus — A circular opening at the top of a dome.
- Coffers — Sunken panels in a ceiling or dome, reducing weight.
- Pediment — A triangular space at the end of a building, often decorated.
- Cella — Inner chamber of a temple housing a deity's image.
- Hypostyle Hall — Large room with columns supporting the roof.
- Holy of Holies — The innermost and most sacred area of a temple.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review architectural terms and their functions in different religious buildings.
- Compare and contrast the role and access of the public in each structure.
- Prepare for a quiz on identifying architectural elements discussed.