Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
5-30-1997
Abstract
Having had several opportunities to travel to France, often with groups of students, our trips have usually included a visit to Chartres, especially to visit the magnificent Gothic cathedral that dominates the town. On a recent visit I was again struck by the beauty, majesty and awe that the cathedral inspires. The building not only does a remarkable job of telling Biblical stories and of enclosing a space conducive to worship, it directs one's eyes and one's spirits upward. This is achieved not only by the beautiful stained glass windows and the striking sculptures, but also by the overall design and proportions of the structure. When I returned home I thought it would be interesting to read more about the cathedral. It was then that I discovered that, in at least some authors' minds, mathematics, particularly geometry, had a central role to play in the design and construction of the building. It is this contribution of mathematics that I would like to share in this paper.
Recommended Citation
Stout, Richard, "Mathematics at Chartres Cathedral" (1997). ACMS Conference Proceedings 1997. 5.
https://pillars.taylor.edu/acms-1997/5
Included in
Applied Mathematics Commons, Computer Sciences Commons, Higher Education Commons, History of Science, Technology, and Medicine Commons, Mathematics Commons, Science and Mathematics Education Commons, Teacher Education and Professional Development Commons