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In response to the Albigensian movement of the 12th century, the south bay of the Royal portal presents the dogma of the

Incarnation. It glorifies the Incarnate Wisdom, Christ, and honors his mother, Mary. For medieval theologians, nature affirms the

existence ofGod: it is theophany. Christ, by becoming man, forms part ofthis tangible and intelligible world, and his incarnation isthe

most perfect theophany. Since Bishop Fulbert (952-1028), the school of Chartres emphasizes man's participation in knowing and

improving the cosmos. Both Gilbert de la Porree and Thierry of Chartres stressed that man is the masterof nature and must continue God's work on this earth.

Royal Portal, south bay

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at the top of the lower archivoltthe hand of God is present,

surrounded by six angels bearing censers

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Aelius Donatus, 4th century Latin grammarian

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Grammar, a lady with a book and a whip, is the nurse and cradle of philosophy

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Ptolemy (90-168), Greek astonomer

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Astronomy, a veiled lady, looking upward and pointed at the constellations

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Boethius (480-524), translator of

Aristotle’s Organon and Cicero’s Topics

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Arithmetic, a veiled lady sitting, perhaps holding an abacus

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Geometry, a veiled lady looking at the drawing board, her right hand might be holding a compass

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Euclid (fl. 300 BC), Greek Mathematician, author of “Elements” of geometry

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Rhetoric, a veiled lady makes a gesture to enhance the persuasion power of words

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Cicero (106-43BC), Roman orator

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Logic, a sitting lady, holding a scepter and a dog

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Aristotle (384-322BC), writing on a board, his pen soaking in the inkwell

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Music, a lady working with a monochord, psaltery, fiddle and bells

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Pythagora (570-495BC), claimed the planets move in response to musical harmony

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Gemini, hands crossed in supplication

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Fish, with the four elements of the world: fire, water, earth, air

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