Notre Dame Rose Windows: Symbolism, Design, and Hidden Details

Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is renowned for the incredible light emanating from its stained glass, particularly its magnificent rose windows. While other cathedrals like Chartres also feature rose windows, those at Notre Dame are notably larger and more intricate in their design and thematic programs.

The Western Rose Window: A Mirror of Nature

The oldest rose window at Notre Dame is located on the western facade and is categorized as an "encyclopedic type." It serves as a mirror of nature, incorporating various elements:

• Periphery: Features signs of the zodiac, works of the months, virtues, and vices.
• Center: Depicts the Virgin and Child surrounded by 12 prophets.

Specific details within this window include:

• Top Middle Circle: The vice of idolatry.
• Right of Idolatry: Anger.
• 2:30 Position: Cowardice, illustrated by a rabbit chasing a knight who has dropped his sword.
• 10:30 Position: Luxury or vanity, shown as a richly dressed woman admiring herself in a mirror.
• Outer Circle: Continues with virtues such as faith, hope, and charity, alongside the works of the month. For example, January is represented by Janus with his two faces (looking back and forward), and December shows winter feasting.

This western rose window directly mirrors the sculptural program on the cathedral's exterior, featuring similar themes of zodiac signs, seasonal works, and virtues and vices. However, much of its detail is now obscured by the pipes of Notre Dame's 19th-century organ.

The Northern Rose Window: Glorification of the Virgin Mary

Installed around 1250 under Jean de Chelles, the northern rose window is dedicated to the glorification of the Virgin Mary.

• Center: The Virgin Mother is seated, surrounded by a circle of 16 prophets and patriarchs. These are identified as Old Testament prophets by their hats, typical of medieval iconography for Jews, and by emblematic scrolls containing their names (e.g., Hosea at the very top, Isaiah at 11:00, Jeremiah at 8:30).
• Lower Part of the Circle (around 5:30): Uniquely features Pharaoh lying asleep, dreaming of the seven fat and seven lean cows, a dream associated with Joseph's time in Egypt.
• Middle Circle: Contains other Old Testament figures:
  • 12:30: King Solomon.
  • 5:00: King David with his harp.
  • 5:30 (left of David): Moses, depicted with horns (as seen in the West Facade sculpture), holding the tablets of the law. One tablet bears the word "Udices" (judge), and the other, his name, Moses.
• Outer Rim: Comprises 32 medallions dedicated to the judges and kings of Israel and Judah. This is further encircled by 36 trefoils or clovers containing figures of kings and priests.
• Lancet Windows Below: A gallery of Old Testament kings, mirroring the gallery of kings on the bridge between the two towers of the west facade.

The Southern Rose Window: Christ in Majesty

Begun in 1258, the southern rose window is a variation of the northern design.

• Center: Features Christ of the Apocalypse, with the sword of judgment on his lap. Christ is surrounded by the tetramorph, symbols of the four evangelists:
  • Top: The eagle (associated with John) and man (associated with Matthew).
  • Bottom: The ox (associated with St. Luke).
  • Left and Right of Christ: Lions (the symbol of St. Mark).
• 12 Rays: Emanating from the center, these rays contain images of apostles, saints, martyrs, kings, and even scenes from the Old Testament, such as the judgment of Solomon at 9:00 (depicting two women, a baby, and a man with a sword).
• Third Ring of Medallions: Contains 24 assorted saints, virgins, and martyrs.
• Outer Row of 24 Trefoil Clovers: Shows angels with various accessories (crowns, incense, candles) mixed with several New Testament scenes, including the flight of Joseph, Mary, and Jesus into Egypt at 9:00.

The South Rose Window thus presents Christ in majesty, surrounded by an extensive celestial court.

The Cathedral as the "Bible of the Poor"

In an era when literacy was uncommon, the cathedral, with its biblical figures and stories depicted in sculpture and stained glass, served as a "Bible of the poor." These visual narratives helped the faithful remember and illustrate sacred history. Preachers could also use these depictions to visually emphasize scriptural teachings.

The Mystery of Unseen Details

A curious aspect of Notre Dame's rose windows, and those in other cathedrals, is that many of their forms are not visible from the ground to the naked eye. The reason for this remains a mystery with no single answer.

One theory suggests that the precise visibility didn't matter; the light passing through the windows was seen as a form of grace, sanctifying whatever it touched and making biblical history part of the present. Another possibility is that, similar to certain figures on cathedral tops visible only to God, these unseen details nonetheless brought divine blessing upon the community of the faithful, regardless of whether humans could perceive them.