TRANSEPTS AND CROSSING
We now leave the nave and move to the central crossing where the transept(s) meets the main axis of the Cathedral. Here there is a raised marble platform, Standing here we can look across to the North transept. When this photograph was taken the transept had yet to be renovated, but the splendour of the stained glass windows is even more obvious by contrast. The brightly lit North ambulatory can be seen at right. [Photo Credit: Google Maps-Wolfgang Guelcker] PLAN
T2. NAVE ALTAR
From here we can imagine walking up the peacock carpet to the nave altar, all the time admiring the beauty of the sanctuary beyond. Peacocks were a widespread symbol of immortality in Roman times. They appear in Roman Jewish catacombs and on Jewish tombstones, so easily came to be a symbol for Christian resurrection life. The cubical altar surrounded by ornamental candles is a recent addition which has drawn some criticism. [Photo1 Credit: Google Maps-Wolfgang Guelcker ; Photo2 Credit: M_Strassar Requested]
T3. CROSSING VAULTING
Looking up we see the vaulting of the crossing. The position of the organ pipes gives us our orientation, so the North transept is to our left and the South transept to our right. The central vaulting bosses are not single stones, but are round circles of stone with holes in the middle. When standing on the upper side of the webbing, it is possible to look through the holes down to the floor below. [Photo Credit: Google Maps-Wolfgang Guelcker]
T4. NORTH TRANSEPT
Looking to the North transept, we see the high clerestory windows, the (North) rose window and lancets on the far wall, and two lower side (West) windows at left. There is in fact also a single lower side East window. [Photo Credit: Google Maps-Hoyez Bernard]
T5. NORTH TRANSEPT ROSE, LANCETS
The North wall windows are once again a feast for the eyes. This rose window, with a diameter of 10.15 metres, dates to c. 1231 CE and has the theme of the Old Testament prophecies being fulfilled with Mary as their instrument. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-PtrQs]
T6. NORTH TRANSEPT ROSE
The central panel depicts Jesus Christ as a child with Mary. This centrepiece is encircled by twelve elliptical panels showing four doves and eight angels. Then a circle of twelve diamond-shaped panels depict the twelve kings of Judah, Chris’s ancestors. The outer ring of semi-circular panels shows the twelve minor prophets. Between the squares and semi-circles are quatrefoil panels with fleurs-de-lis. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-MOSSOT]
T7. NORTH TRANSEPT LANCETS
The lancet windows below the rose show St Anne in the centre holding the child Mary, and a curious collection of Old Testament Kings: at left Nebuchadnezzar II, the idolater of Babylon, and King David playing his harp, and at right, King Solomon, and the Egyptian Pharaoh who unwisely chased Moses through the Red Sea. There is also a depiction of King Saul falling on his sword. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-PtrQs]
T8. NORTH TRANSEPT CLERESTORY
The row of clerestory windows continues on the side walls of the North transept, with three on the West wall and three on the East wall. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-Urban]
T9. NORTH TRANSEPT WINDOW 35
There are also three lower windows on the side walls of the North transept. We look at two of these. This window in Bay 35 is just around the corner from the nave, and above a confessional. It shows the parable of the Prodigal Son. The top panel shows Christ in Majesty. [Photo1 Credit: Wikipedia-MMensler; Photo2 Credit: Manuel Cohen]
T10. NORTH TRANSEPT WINDOW 31 Mtb
The single window on the East side of the North transept has the theme of Reconciliation between God and Humanity. From the bottom, the central disks show the Ten Commandments, altar and rainbow, the Eucharist, and (presumably) the Crucifixion.
T11. SOUTH TRANSEPT ROSE AND LANCETS
We cross now to the South transept where there is another rose window with lancets beneath. This window dates from 1190-1220 CE. It shows scenes of Jesus Christ and the Judgement of the Apocalypse. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-PtrQs]
T12. SOUTH TRANSEPT ROSE
The rose window illustrates the first vision in the Book of Revelation (4:1–11). At the window’s centre is Christ in Majesty. The first circle shows the four living creatures of a lion, a bull, a man and an eagle – symbols of the Four Evangelists, interspersed with censing angels. The next two circles show the twenty-four elders, with quatrefoils with the Dreux family coat of arms between these two circles. This window was a donation of the Mauclerc family, the Counts of Dreux-Bretagne; they are depicted with their arms in the bases of the lancets below. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-MOSSOT]
T13. SOUTH TRANSEPT LANCETS
The central lancet beneath the rose shows the Virgin carrying the infant Christ. Either side of this are four lancets showing the Four Evangelists sitting on the shoulders of four Prophets – a rare literal illustration of the theological principle that the New Testament builds upon the Old Testament. From left: Luke/Jeremiah, Matthew/Isaiah, St Mary/Jesus, John/Ezekiel, Luke/Daniel. [Photo Credit: Wikipedia-PtrQs]
T14. SOUTH TRANSEPT VAULTING
The South transept vaulting is similar to that of the North transept, with three clerestory windows along each side. Photo Credit: Digital Kenyon]
T15. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOWS 32, 34
There are three lower windows in the South transept. Here we see those in Bays 32 and 34. The first window shows scenes from the life of St Fulbert who was a scholar and philosopher, and also a bishop of Chartres. He spent much of his time as bishop rigorously defending monasticism and orthodoxy. The second window, on the opposite (Western) wall is a grisaille window incorporating fragments of a Resurrection of Lazarus. [Photo Credits: Wikipedia-Le Passant]
T16. SOUTH TRANSEPT WINDOW 36 ** Mtb
Our last window here, in Bay 36, shows scenes from the life of St Apollonius. St Apollonius the Apologist (also known as St Apollonius of Rome) died 21 April 185. He was a 2nd-century Christian martyr and apologist who was martyred in 185 under the Emperor Commodus. We now leave the transept, and move briefly to the front of the nave before exploring further. [Photo Credit1 : M_Stressar Requested]