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West Zodiac & Monthly Labours Door
Chartres Cathedral - 1100s
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The archivolts of the north door in the west portal have zodiac signs and labours of the month as described in the table below. Start at the bottom outer right and go to the centre, then restart at the bottom inner right, then move to the bottom inner left and finally the bottom outer left.
The signs of the elusive Pisces and the shielded Gemini Twins are to be found in the inner archivolt of the south door (photo on right) because there was no room in the north!
The descriptions and months for the activities used below are taken from the cathedral guide.
LINK TO CHARTRES ZODIAC WINDOW
LINK TO CHARTRES ZODIAC NORTH PORTAL DOOR
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Outer Left Archivolt
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Inner Left Archivolt
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Inner Right Archivolt
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Outer Right Archivolt
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Virgo August
August 24 September 22 La Vierge (The Virgin) |
Gemini May Located next to the left base of the inner archivolt of the south door May 22 June 21 Les Gιmeaux (The Twins) |
Pisces February Located at the left base of the inner archivolt of the south door February 19 March 20 Les Poissons (The Fishes)
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Sagittarius November
November 23 December 21 Le Sagitaire (The Archer)
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September Grape Treading
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June mower
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March Pruning
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December Feast
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Leo July
July 23 August 23 Le Lion (The Lion)
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Taurus April
April 21 May 21 Le Taureau (The Bull) |
Aquarius January
January 21 February 18 Le Verseau (The Water Carrier)
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Scorpio October
October 24 November 22 Le Scorpion (The Scorpion) |
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August Wheat Threshing
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May Falconer
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February Foot Warming by the Fire
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November Pig Killing
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Cancer June
June 22 July 22 (June 21 - Summer Solstice) Le Cancer (The Crab)
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Aries March
March 21 April 20 (March 21 - Spring Equinox) Le Bιlier (The Ram) |
Capricorn December
December 22 - January 20 (December 22 - Winter Solstice) La Capricorne (The Sea Goat) |
Libra September
September 23 October 23 (September 23 - Autumn Equinox) Le Balance (The Scales) |
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July Harvesting
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April blossoms
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January Two-Head
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October Acorn Gathering
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February Foot Warming and November Pig Killing
Capricorn the Sea Goat and Libra (without scales now)
September Grape Treading
December Feast
May Falconer
Scorpio - October
MORE PHOTOS OF ZODIAC AND ACTIVITY SCULPTURES ON THE WAY
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All original material © Adrian Fletcher 2000-12 - The contents may not be hotlinked, or reproduced without permission.