The Nave of Chartres Catheral

by Dr. Deborah Vess

The word "nave" comes from the Latin word for ship, "navis." The cathedral symbolizes the Church, which is the ship which ferries souls from this life to the next. As you look down the nave, notice how your eye travels upward. The pointed arches and high vaulted ceilings are characteristic of the Gothic style. The height of the ceilings, as well as the multi-colored light which pours in through the many windows of Chartres, transport one to another level of consciousness and symbolically closer to the divine.

Among the interesting aspects of the nave are the labyrinth and the choir. The sculptures around the choir took 200 years to complete, and there are 41 of them. They include scenes of the annunciation and baptism of Christ.

copyright © Dr. Deborah Vess 1998-2001, Georgia College & State University and the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia. All rights reserved. Rights to chapters authored by contributing faculty members reserved to Georgia College & State University, to the Interdisciplinary Studies Program at GC&SU, and to the individual faculty authors.