Notre Dame du Haut

General Description

The Notre Dame du Haut was constructed on top of the hill of Bourlemont beginning in September 1953 and was finished in June 1955. The site was used in the fourth century AD to build a sanctuary in homage to the Virgin Mary, and legends of miracles sprung forth from there. This makes it a good site to build a place of worship as many believers would come because they believed in the miracles. Because there was a church built in the valley of Ronchamp, the building was named Notre Dame du Haut in order to distinguish it from the parish church. On September 1873, the day of the commemoration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, after French-German hostilities ceased, 30,000 pilgrims visited this chapel marking the recovery of its pilgrimage history.

Architectural Design

Much opposition slowed the start of the construction of this chapel by parishioners of Ronchamp, the city surrounding the site, as well as the diocesan clergyman and the press because of the design that was not a traditional design of religious architecture but more of the design of a sculpture. Le Corbusier, in designing this chapel, purposely combined “Cubist methodology, Marian, alchemical, Catharist, and astrological themes simultaneously”. The south entrance exhibits curvilinear walls that have many orthogonal holes all covered on top by the massive crab-shell roof. The outside altar was built to accommodate the many pilgrims as the building was quite small. Its canopy slopes down to rest on a pier that is inside a cylindrical sheath. Most of the building is reinforced concrete including the outside altar.

Harmony with Nature

The holes in the wall were covered with different types of glass, many painted with symbolism of nature. Birds, flowers, butterflies, the sun, the stars, the moon, the clouds all suggest harmony with the outside. Sunlit rays come in through these windows as well as through a thin gap under the roof to enlighten the room with a style that emphasizes the beautiful forms of the chapel. Because the chapel is on top of a steep hill, nature is a definite aspect of the chapel itself, surrounded by a vast green landscape with plateaus and plains that hinders the visibility of the chapel from below but illuminates the beautiful landscape from atop.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects

From the outside of the chapel to the inside, the construction of the chapel suggests biblical symbolism, many focused on the Virgin Mary. The design of the chapel “recalls praying hands, the wings of a dove, and the shape of the boat”. These are all symbols of “divine generosity to humans”. Inside, an image of the Virgin Mary is placed in the east wall with sunlight coming through the windows illuminating the image, recalling a verse from the Scriptures: “The Sun Her Mantle”. Even the roof suggests sacred symbolism as a coffin lid that is raised up to suggest the assumption of Mary into Heaven, as the Christians believe.

How it is used by Worshippers

The Notre Dame du Haut is a pilgrimage destination for Roman Catholics. On pilgrimage days, the outside chapel is used to accommodate large crowds of about 12,000 pilgrims. Due to the beautiful display of light created by the sun, the inside of the chapel is naturally “a vessel of silence, of sweetness”. Catholics come to celebrate Mass inside and outside the chapel, with the altar is the focus of attention during this time. They also come to pray in the chapel for miracles and special blessings and the vast amount of sacred symbolism and the peace and tranquility of the chapel allows them to connect themselves to God and to Mary.

Sources

Coombs, Robert (2000). Mystical Themes in Le Corbusier's Architecture in The Chapel Notre-Dame-Du-Haut at Ronchamp. United Kingdom: The Edwin Mellen Press.

Lazzari, M, & Schlesier, D (2005). Exploring art, A global, thematic approach. Belmont, CA: Thomson Learning, Inc..

Pauly, Daniele (2008). The Chapel at Ronchamp. Paris: Fondation Le Corbusier.


written by Thanh Truc Ngo

The Great Pyramid By:Ragale Russell

The Great Pyramid - General Description

Pyramids in general were built to safeguard the afterlife of the pharaohs. Ancient Egyptians believed that when a pharaoh died, he became king of the dead. Because of this they wanted to take proper care of the pharaoh even after death to ensure he was able to carry out his duties accordingly. The Great Pyramid was estimated to have been built around circa 2550 B.C. and it was built to shelter Pharaoh Khufu. The Great Pyramid is located in Giza , now modern-day Cairo . This wonder of the world is the largest pyramid ever built and took about 2.3 million stone blocks that weighed 2.0 to 2.5 tons each. The pyramid houses three burial chambers, the first which is located underground, the second to house a sacred statue of the king, and the third which is the king’s chamber.

The Great Pyramid - Architectural Design

A common inaccuracy made during this time was that pyramids were built by slaves or foreigners. Research done on skeletons from this era show that the builders were actually Egyptians who lived in villages under the pharaoh’s supervisors. Among these communities there were bakers, butchers, brewers, houses, cemeteries, and even healthcare facilities. The Great Pyramid was constructed by using a total of 2.3 million blocks of limestone and granite. Each block weighed anywhere between 2-2.5 tons. The construction time was estimated to have begun somewhere from 2550 B.C. to 2589 B.C and it’s said to have taken about 20 years to finish. The estimate weight of the Great Pyramid is 6.5 million tons. The base of the pyramid covers 13 acres and the original length of each side was 754 feet. The original height was 481 feet tall. The Great Pyramid boasts many architectural designs used in the 20th century. One of those would be cornerstones which are used in modern day bridge designs. The Great Pyramid’s cornerstones have balls and sockets built into them to keep the monument safe from natural disasters such as earthquakes and other natural events. Without these cornerstones in place the Great Pyramid would have sustained great losses to its outer core.

The Great Pyramid - Harmony with Nature


The Great Pyramid’s features are so large they can be seen from space. Even more magnificent is the fact that the Great Pyramid was built upon a flat solid granite mountain, which is the only surface known to withstand the weight of the Great Pyramid. This structure was built facing exactly north and is located at the exact center of the Earth’s land mass.

The Great Pyramid - Symbolism and Sacred Objects



Ancient Egyptians believed that when the pharaoh died, he would become Osiris, king of the dead. The one whose place he took would become Horus, god of the heavens and protector of the sun god. The rising and setting of the sun is what they believed symbolized this ritual. Because of this ritual the Ancient Egyptians took special care to house the dead spirits of their pharaohs to make sure each pharaoh could carry out his new post. If they prevented him from his duties, the rising and setting of the sun would be broken, thus causing chaos among Egypt . Some built massive tombs while others built pyramids to safeguard their presence. The Egyptian Pyramids were modeled on a sacred, pointed stone called the benben. The benben symbolized the rays of the sun; the claim was that the pharaohs would reach the heavens from these sunbeams. One of the most significant things about the Great Pyramid is that it does not house the remains of Pharaoh Khufu. The Great Pyramid has three burial chambers. The inside of the chamber is thought to belong to the King. There is a red granite sarcophagus placed exactly at the center of the pyramid, but this sarcophagus does not contain the remains of Pharaoh Khufu.

The Great Pyramid - How it is used by worshippers

The earlier pyramids were used by worshippers in a sense to house the remains of pharaohs and preserve their afterlife. This cannot be said for The Great Pyramid because when explorers journeyed to the different chambers they were not able to locate any treasures or even the mummified remains of a pharaoh. Even more surprising is the fact that many of the outer case stones were removed from the Great Pyramid by the Arab community about 600 years ago. Studies show they removed these stones to assist with building the surrounding city of Cairo . By the time Arabs invaded Egypt during the 17th century, there was no connection made to the religious relevance and therefore they removed pieces of the Great Pyramid for other projects. At one point and time tourists scaled and tunneled through the Great Pyramid, helping to destroy the outer core. Zahi Hawass, a longtime investigator at Giza and now the Chairman of the SCA ( Egypt 's Supreme Council of Antiquities), can be credited for bringing these exhibitions to a halt. As of now people are no longer allowed to ascend and explore within the tomb because it’s non-intrusive, neither are planes allowed to fly above it for it has received national protection.

Sources

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/khufu.html

http://www.europa.com/~edge/pyramid.html

http://www.nationalgeographic.com/pyramids/khufu.html

http://www.touregypt.net/featurestories/greatpyramid1.htm

Stonehenge

Stonehenge


General Description

In the county of Wiltshire, which is embedded in the midst of England’s magnificent plains stands a prehistoric monument known was Stonehenge whose origins and purpose have been discussed and argued about for decades. The name Stonehenge means “hanging stones” which was given to the structure by the Saxons. It is also known as the “giant’s dance” which was a name given to it during the Medieval times. While the monuments design and structure may strike an ordinary individual as rather simple and random, research over the years have uncovered a tremendous amount of details regarding this creation which is believed to have been erected as early as 2300 B.C according to recent archeologists. More specifically, experts agree that the construction of Stonehenge lasted well over 1500 years implying several generations of people have worked on it in phases making it even more unique. Thus it is no surprise that in 2002 it was voted as one of the Seven Wonders of Britain. However, when studying this work of art one must realize that it was initially built by a culture that did not have a written language thus all of the findings are based on expert testimony and the majority of the specifics are up for personal interpretation.

Architectural Design

Stonehenge was constructed in three stages which experts predict to have lasted over 1500 years. Stonehenge I consisted primarily of a ditch with two banks, three standing stones, four wooden posts and a ring of 56 holes, called Aubrey Holes (Hefner). During Stonehenge II 80 giant bluestones were built within the henge, archeologists believed these stones were transported for over 150 km which during the time was a very daunting and demanding task. The final stage was further divided into three sub-stages however the main event during these stages was the erection of the Altar stone which stands in the middle of the horseshoe. Stonehenge represents magnificent structural engineering and even though there is no evidence as to which tools were used to design this structure, experts have estimated that no less than 1500 men worked on it at once and that a total of 1,497,680 worked on it including logistics and planning (Hefner).

Harmony with Nature

Due to the age of Stonehenge, experts believe it was constructed as a continuation of God’s initial creations on the planet. Specifically, the structure blends into the plains as if it was planned and constructed by God himself. Furthermore, the cultures who have built and used it often times used it as a passage way to another life or as a place of worship. The structure truly is in sync with its surroundings and it portrays nature at every level of its design.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects

At the pinnacle of the structure lies an astonishing Altar Stones, which arguably is the most sacred object. Experts believe it was used for sacrifices and burials and many more activities. As noted before the altar lies in the middle of the structure highlighted the importance by the mere placement. The center of the structure or the center of life, everything evolves around this stone and what it represents.
How it is used by Worshippers
Over the many years, there have been a plethora of claims as to who used Stonehenge and for what purpose. Most can agree on the findings that it was at one time a burial ground. Recently, archeologists have suggested that it was used as a place of healing due to the tranquil aura which surrounds the structure (Morgan). Furthermore, some experts believe it represented a “Land of the Dead” and thus was used as a place for sacrifice to please the gods. However, since it was designed and erected by a culture with no written language, the true intentions of this breath-taking work of art can only be left in the eye of the beholder which creates an even more mysterious attraction.

Sources
Morgan, James. "Dig pinpoints Stonehenge origins." BBC NEWS. 21 Sept. 2008. 8 Apr. 2009 .
Hefner, Alan. "Stonehenge." The MYSTICA.ORG. 5 Apr. 2009 .


Written By Dennis Onabajo

The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan

Jarrod Pinkerton

General Description

The Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan, Mexico is located about 31 miles north east of Mexico City. It is one of many pyramids along the Avenue of the Dead built for deity worship. The rise and fall of Teotihuacan was between 500 BCE and 650 CE when the city was abandoned and burned because the people had used too many of their natural resources to construct the massive temples, palaces and pyramids (Learn NC, 2009). The pyramid and town were given their names by visiting Aztec people long after the city of Teotihuacan was abandoned. The name given to the pyramid by its creators is unknown, but it was most likely used to worship the sun. The structure is the second largest pyramid in Mesoamerica and the third largest in the world.

Architectural Design

The pyramid was constructed in two phases. The Teotihuacan people did not have wheeled machines for carrying or beasts of burden, so the people had to carry all 2.5 million tons of rock and earth used to construct the structure. The second phase ended with the pyramid reaching 215 feet high with a base of 738 feet across (Lazzari & Schlesier, 2005). When the structure was completed, it had an alter at the top which has not survived to today. It was constructed in tiers with rounded edges. The entire structure sits atop a vast underground cave most likely created by the Teotihuacan people.

Harmony with Nature

The Pyramid of the Sun is an organic structure designed to blend with its natural surroundings. Its sheer mass coupled with its tiered design makes it look like one of the many mountains surrounding the city of Teotihuacan (Lazzari & Schlesier, 2009). Early Mesoamerican people found spirituality in nature and within the human psyche. The structure is built to be a place where people can come to feel surrounded by nature and the deities that rule the natural world.

Symbolism and Sacred Objects

The city of Teotihuacan was built on a grid using North, South, East, and West. The main road, the Avenue of the Dead, runs directly North and South through the city. The people of Teotihuacan most likely worshipped celestial bodies and structures within the city were built to correlate with changes in the heavens. Until the early part of the twentieth century, the top of the pyramid was covered with mica that was imported from far away in South America. The mica was believed to be a conductor of solar energy that would transmit the energy from the top of the pyramid to the caves below where people could use it in their daily spiritual lives (Learn NC, 2009). The levels of the pyramid symbolized the three levels of the Teotihuacan cosmos: the celestial, terrestrial, and subterranean (Encyclopedia Brittanica, 2009).

How it is used by Worshippers

The Pyramid of the Sun was most likely used to worship a sun deity of some kind or the great goddess. In many Mesoamerican cultures of the time, the ruler was believed to be an incarnation of the sun god (Science Encyclopedia, 2009). To appease the god and assure a fruitful harvest and healthy children, the alter at the top of the pyramid may have been used for human sacrifices. Many sun deities of the time had a great appetite for human flesh and unless they were fed ceremonially, the people would suffer. Also, the caves below the temple were a place of worship and meditation. Celestial energy was harvested and channeled into the caves to enhance spiritual well-being and physical health.

Sources

Encyclopedia Brittanica. Retrieved on April 18, 209 from www.brittanica.com.

Lazzari, M., & Schlesier, D. (2005). Exploring Art: A Global, Thematic Approach.
Belmont, CA, Thomson Wadsworth.

Learn NC. Retrieved on April 18, 2009 from www.learnnc.org.

Science Encyclopedia. Retrieved on April 18, 2009 from http://science.jrank.org.