Stone castles were now a thing of the past, and gothic cathedrals were the new center of attention. With those dominating skylines and glass filled walls, the cathedrals became a representation of the Bible on earth. Around one thousand years ago these monumental cathedrals became the source of a race for height amongst the different regions. However, this race came at a cost, by changing thick and low walls with tall and thin one, some structural integrities of these buildings were jeopardized. How did the religious beliefs of the people impact the construction and desire for maximum height?
One hundred and forty-four feet of height, that is the height of the cathedrals and the alleged height of heaven, of the city of God, that was the celestial number. That number is considered to be one of the main reasons for the measurements of the cathedrals. That was not the only measurement obtained from the bible in order to create this heaven on earth building. The 30 to 60 feet was said to be God’s house on Earth, and 50 feet measurements, which are also commonly found in these buildings are the sacred number of feet God told Noah to build is arc. By using these perfect proportions and ideal numbers as basic measurements, the people saw the cathedrals as a sign of supreme beauty in the universe.
In order to obtain these ideals of height, they had to create new methods when it came to building. It was discovered that by making the tip of the arc pointy, instead of round, it released stress lines down, instead of sideways, allowing more height to be added to the structure. Nonetheless, these were not enough to keep the building stable therefore support arcs, known as flying buttress, were installed on each side to counteract this force. Rib vaults were also a key concept created to ensure the main space of the building was stable, which was two arcs intersecting one another. This allowed there to be space in order to place tinted glass windows representing religious images and let light in, which was of great significance because it symbolized God.
Every block has to be precisely placed properly in order to ensure a stable structural integrity, which is why, unfortunately, some cathedrals did not last. However, its magnificence in size, height, new architectural achievements and religious background, granted a special place that impacts anyone who comes across them. And the religious significance in the ceilings, measurements, and floor layout create a space unlike any other at the time that leads to astonishing new heights. These cathedrals were both symbolically and physically a heaven on earth.
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