Chartres and the Dome of the Rock: Cultural and Religious Masterpieces

Roy King

April 11, 2022

Word count: 1987

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Table of Contents for Pictures

In order of appearance:

Title/Description: On the Left, an as-Yet Unrestored Section of the Cathedral Can Be Compared

to a Restored Section, Right

Artist/Organization: Rory Scott and O.P. Lawrence

Title/Description: Arches to the Dome

Artist/Organization: Asim Bahrwami

Title/Description: Overhead View of the Rock the Building Is Built Over

Artist/Organization: Abu Huzaifa from BeautyOfislam

Title/Description: Road to Tradition

Artist/Organization: National Catholic Register

Title/Description: Chartres Labyrinth

Artist/Organization: Frederic and Margaret Wallis

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Religion and its influence on the manner in which people and cultures interact is a

fascinating topic that has been a focus of inquiry for historians and other scholars since the

beginning of written history. Few ways of approaching this discussion are more interesting than

an analysis of the effect that religious differences have on the art and architecture produced by a

culture. Throughout history, civilizations have created buildings that help them to worship their

god(s). Art and architecture can provide a lens through which to view the differences between

cultures and religions. Two religions where this lens is particularly useful are Christianity and

Islam. Despite the multitude of doctrinal similarities between these religions, they have been at

each other's throats for more than a thousand years. This conflict, which continues to this day,

can often obscure common ground between these two religions. However, one way that their

similarities can be highlighted and their differences appreciated is through an analysis of their art

and architectural history. There are four fundamental elements of a piece of art that, when

explored and compared with the same elements in other pieces, shed light not only on the pieces

themselves but also on the cultures and religions that produced them. Three of these four

elements: form, content, and function, are the practical representation of the context of a piece.

Form and content involve a description of the actual piece itself and the elements that make the

piece unique. Function relates to what the piece’s intended use is and context involves the

circumstances surrounding the piece, its creation, and its creator. Through an in-depth analysis of

the form, function, content, and context of Chartres Cathedral and the Dome of the Rock and

then a comparison of these elements, a more complete understanding of the similarities and

differences between the beliefs and values of these two religions and cultures can be achieved.
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To begin, an explanation of the cultural significance of both the Dome of the Rock and

Chartres is necessary. The Dome of the Rock is built over an outcrop of bedrock in the middle of

Jerusalem known as the temple mount. This area is highly significant to Christianity, Judaism,

and Islam. Christians and Jews believe that this is the spot where Abraham demonstrated his

obedience to God by proceeding to offer his son Isaac as a sacrifice until God intervened to spare

Isaac’s life1. This is also the site of the Jewish temple of Solomon which was destroyed by the

Babylonians in 587 BCE and the later Temple of Zerubbabel which was ultimately leveled by the

Romans in 72 AD. Jews regard the temple mount as both a holy place and a tie to their

ancestors. Muslims believe that it is the place where Mohammad ascended to heaven to speak to

Allah during his “night journey.”2 All three religions have deep connections to either the Dome of

the Rock or to the temple mount as a whole but only Muslim pilgrims are allowed to enter the

Dome itself. Chartres on the other hand has deep religious connections to Christianity because

Chartres holds what Roman Catholic Christians believe to be a piece of Mary’s tunic. By visiting

Chartres and viewing Mary’s tunic, pilgrims believe they can establish a closer connection to

Christ.

The first way in which these two structures can be compared is through the lens of their

content. Like Chartres, the Dome of the Rock is an important pilgrimage destination. The

function of these sites as pilgrimage destinations influences their content. For example, both of

these structures contain ambulatories, which are a type of aisle with a low ceiling that runs

around the interior perimeter of the building. Ambulatories allow pilgrims to walk around the

interior periphery of the building while being separated from the worshipers in the center. To

1
The New King James Version, Genesis. 22
2
Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Pearson, 2018.
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understand the Dome’s ambulatories, one must understand the Dome’s unique status as a holy

building. It isn't a mosque; rather, it is a Mashhad or holy shrine. This means that its fundamental

purpose is as a place for observing and contemplating, not worshiping. It is a place where

pilgrims connect more deeply with Mohammed the Prophet and Allah through contemplation of

the event the Dome is intended to memorialize. The ambulatories facilitate this contemplative

process: “The architectural design differs from that of a mosque, and the ambulatory

configuration is not suited for Muslim congregational prayer. It also does not fit easily into other

categories of Islamic religious structures.”3 Chartres’ ambulatories are somewhat different in that

they have a low balustrade that separates the aisles from the nave. This creates a more distinct

separation than the Dome’s ambulatory. Chartres’ more defined ambulatory exists because its

occupants must be more explicitly separated from other parts of the church where worship

services are conducted. This is because, unlike the Dome of the Rock, pilgrims to Chartres not

only participate in religious services but also observe these ceremonies; this necessitates both

more space and a more clear division between worshipers and spectators.

A logical continuation of a

discussion of the content of these pieces

is to discuss their formal artistic and

architectural elements. These two

buildings, while superficially appearing

to be quite different, employ many

similar architectural techniques. One of

3
Zeidan, Adam. “Dome of the Rock.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,
16 Aug. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dome-of-the-Rock.
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the most interesting similarities between these two edifices is their use of arches. Chartres uses

arches to form the groin vaults and rib vaults that make the high ceiling possible. The arches used

to construct the Dome of the Rock are more delicate and heavily

adorned because they hold up less weight than those at Chartres.

Chartres is much larger and thus a lot more mass needs to be

supported. In addition, the corrugated iron roof of Chartres is

much heavier than the wooden roof of the Dome of the Rock.

The arches employed in the construction of Chartres and the

Dome of the Rock provide a perfect example of how the two

different structures employ the same formal elements but with

different degrees of artistic freedom arising from differing structural exigencies.

The second distinct formal element to discuss is the decoration and ornamentation both

internally and externally. Both of these buildings have very different two and three-dimensional

decorations. It is these differences that help to give an insight into the cultural differences

reflected in the buildings. Chartres employs sculpture and stained glass that depict stylized

human forms while the Dome of the

Rock has no iconography. The reason

for this difference is that Islam abhors

iconography. At its most tolerant,

Islam accommodates depictions of

people in secular settings but the most

extreme theologians consider all

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depictions of people or animals as a serious crime.4 This doctrinal prohibition did not, however,

stop Islamic architects from decorating their buildings beautifully. The Dome of the Rock

incorporates exquisite calligraphy, elaborate geometric patterns, and arabesque designs. Chartres

on the other hand unabashedly embraces decorations in the form of humans and animals to

emphasize important aspects of Christianity. Islam’s stern prohibition against representations of

the natural world in no way diminishes the beauty of the Dome’s decorations. In fact, it facilitates

the creation of an abstract beauty that, but for Islam’s injunction against natural forms, might

never have been created to awe and inspire the contemplative observer. Chartres takes an

opposite approach using natural images, illuminated and sanctified with God’s divine light

shining through stained glass, to demonstrate the glory of God and the presence of the Divine in

all things. The most important of these aspects is the asserted equivalency between light and

proximity to God. The builders of Chartres felt that light was holy and that a holy building

should let in as much natural light as possible.5 This is why Chartres employs massive rose

windows with beautiful stained glass. Sunlight passing through these windows creates an almost

hypnotic light show throughout the cathedral as the sun arcs through the sky. These windows are

made possible by the flying buttress: a gracefully arching external buttress that holds in check the

4
Macaulay, Dr. Elizabeth. “The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat Al-Sakhra).” The Dome of the Rock
(Qubbat Al-Sakhra), Smarthistory, 8 Aug. 2015,
https://smarthistory.org/the-dome-of-the-rock-qubbat-al-sakhra/.
5
McFadden, Christopher. “The 39 of the Greatest Constructions of Gothic Architecture in the
World.” The 39 Greatest Constructions of Gothic Architecture in the World, Interesting
Engineering, 16 July 2020,
https://interestingengineering.com/the-39-greatest-constructions-of-gothic-architecture-in-the-wo
rld#:~:text=Gothic%20Architecture%20is%20a%20pan,broken%20up%20by%20overlaid%20tr
acery%2C&text=Pointed%20Gothic%20arches,glass%20windows%20were%20also%20commo
n.
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natural outward buckling force of the church’s high main walls. This allows for the walls to be

thinner and taller which permits the use of larger windows.

The third and final way in which a comparison of Chartres and Dome of the Rock can

help shed light on the similarities and differences between Christianity and Islam is an analysis of

function. Both of these buildings are

pilgrimage destinations and a comparison of

the actions taken by pilgrims while visiting

these sites is instructive. The Dome of the

Rock is a shrine; that is its sole purpose and its

design reflects that fact. Chartres, however, is

different in that it must accommodate much

more pilgrim activity within its confines.

Pilgrims first make their way to the

ambulatory where they watch Mass before they

have the opportunity to receive Mass

themselves. Chartres holds Mass frequently for

pilgrims and ordinary churchgoers; to

accommodate these crowds the builders

employed a cruciform layout and wide nave.

This allows many people to be seated while

maintaining a path to the altar to receive

communion. However, before they participate in Mass, pilgrims walk through the symbolic

labyrinth, a type of circular maze. This symbolizes the challenging path through life that all
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Christians must walk. Their path is illuminated by the celestial multicolored light from the rose

windows during the day or thousands of candles at night. This process is very interesting because

it has a very similar corollary in Islam. The ṭawāf is a ritual that involves walking or running

around a holy object or altar. This process is most famously done at the Kaaba in Mecca but it is

performed at other holy shrines as well, including the Dome of the Rock. This idea of walking

specific circular paths as a way to connect with the Divine is fascinating because it manifests

across multiple religions. While this practice makes an appearance in Christianity and Islam it

can also be seen in Buddhism with circumambulation at the Borobudur Temple or the Great

Stupa at Sanchi.

Another specific functional element of Chartres that is shared by the Dome of the Rock is

the belief in the structure’s ability to help a person reach favor in the sight of God. Pilgrims

believe that traveling to holy places like Chartres and achieving proximity to relics like the tunic

of Mary help them to gain favor in the sight of God.6 This belief that pilgrimage to holy sites will

garner favor from God is shared by Muslims and is a motivation for their pilgrimage to the Dome

of the Rock. When the function of these buildings is compared it becomes clear that there is a

multitude of similar themes that manifest across the two religions.

As the form, function, and content of these two pieces are compared through the lens of

the context surrounding them, new insights can form regarding not just the pieces themselves but

the religions that created them. The need for both of these buildings to accommodate pilgrims in

their search for communion with God and enlightenment was paramount in their design. As these

6
The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, and Barbara A Schreiber. “Chartres Cathedral.”
Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Aug. 2020,
https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chartres-Cathedral.
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similarities are explored, common values are discovered. Pilgrimage and a desire for a

connection to light and the divine tie these two buildings together in a particularly compelling

way. The similarities discussed herein between these two edifices are just the tip of the iceberg

and many additional similarities can easily be shown. The formal and functional choices are a

direct reflection of the context in which the edifices were built. These formal and functional

choices directly influence the content of the piece. Thus the content, i.e., what a piece truly is, is

directly influenced by the context in which it is created. Given that so many elements of the

content are similar, it follows that contextual similarities will also be manifest between the two

edifices. These similarities demonstrate the existence of common ground between these very

different religions.
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Works Cited

Bahrwami, Asim. “Arches to the Dome.” Flickr, 18 Nov. 2010,

https://www.flickr.com/photos/modenadude/5323120952/in/set-72157625276151981.

Accessed 27 Feb. 2022.

BeautyOfislam, and Abu Huzaifa. “Overhead View of the Rock the Building Is Built Over.”

Interior of The Dome of the Rock, ISLAMICLANDMARKS.com,

https://www.islamiclandmarks.com/palestine-masjid-al-aqsa/interior-of-the-dome-of-the-

rock.

Macaulay, Dr. Elizabeth. “The Dome of the Rock (Qubbat Al-Sakhra).” The Dome of the Rock

(Qubbat Al-Sakhra), Smarthistory, 8 Aug. 2015,

https://smarthistory.org/the-dome-of-the-rock-qubbat-al-sakhra/.

McFadden, Christopher. “The 39 of the Greatest Constructions of Gothic Architecture in the

World.” The 39 Greatest Constructions of Gothic Architecture in the World, Interesting

Engineering, 16 July 2020,

https://interestingengineering.com/the-39-greatest-constructions-of-gothic-architecture-in

-the-world#:~:text=Gothic%20Architecture%20is%20a%20pan,broken%20up%20by%2

0overlaid%20tracery%2C&text=Pointed%20Gothic%20arches,glass%20windows%20we

re%20also%20common.

National Catholic Register. “Road to Tradition.” Chartres Pilgrimage Offers a Traditional Route

to Christ and His Church, National Catholic Register, 14 June 2019,

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https://www.ncregister.com/news/chartres-pilgrimage-offers-a-traditional-route-to-christ-

and-his-church. Accessed 27 Feb. 2022.

Scott, Rory, and O.P. Lawrence. “On the Left, an as-Yet Unrestored Section of the Cathedral Can

Be Compared to a Restored Section, Right.” The Restoration of Chartres Cathedral Is a

"Scandalous Desecration", Arch Daily, 16 Dec. 2014,

https://www.archdaily.com/578212/the-restoration-of-chartres-cathedral-is-a-scandalous-

desecration. Accessed 27 Feb. 2022.

Stokstad, Marilyn, and Michael Watt Cothren. Art History. Pearson, 2018.

The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, and Barbara A Schreiber. “Chartres Cathedral.”

Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc., 5 Aug. 2020,

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Chartres-Cathedral.

Zeidan, Adam. “Dome of the Rock.” Encyclopædia Britannica, Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.,

16 Aug. 2021, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Dome-of-the-Rock.

The New King James Version, Genesis. 22

Wallis, Frederic, and Margaret Wallis. “Chartres Labyrinth.” Chartres Labyrinth &

Symbolism,

http://www.labyrinth.org.nz/what-is-a-labyrinth/chartres-labyrinth-and-symbolism/.

Accessed 27 Feb. 2022.