anum is important to the churchgoer because it is the first narrative that they see. It is a reminder of their religious history that they can ultimately be a part of. It helps to establish a sense of purpose in their minds as they proceed into the church.Then the viewer is ushered through the door by the Trumean figure of Virgin and Child. We are reminded that Mary is holding Christ and therefore becomes the church. The Notre Dame houses Christ both as seen demonstrated in the statue and in the edifice. Mary is the tangible connection between those on earth and Christ. The viewer ponders this as they walk past the statue through the door. If one were to turn around after walking in, they would see the rose mentioned above in its entire splendor. A seemingly endless array of colored light shines through the glass. The light is the medium. This is arguably the most impressive stained glass rose in all of the gothic cathedrals. When one looks up to it, they feel awestruck and overwhelmed by its beauty and the intellect inherent in it. This intellect is seen by the perfect organization of the many pedals surrounding the center depiction of Mary and the Christ child. A hierarchy is displayed through a circle of pedals that surround her featuring the prophets of the Old Testament and another around them showing the kings and patriarchs. The complexity of the design alludes to a higher power at work. The lancets below the rose structure underline its beauty and further help to guide our eye back up to the Rosary dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.Another structure in which light is very much a part of the intended architecture is the Pantheon. Though it does not have any windows, the Pantheon does have the famous oculus that directs a beam of light across the interior with the passing of the sun. This would remind worshippers inside that in this building, there was a direct connection between the heavens and the earth. The light ...
