As fire raged through the iconic Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris, the world mourned the loss of history and culture. Besides being an iconic structure that represents the soul of France, the 800-year-old Gothic cathedral, is home to a treasure-trove of art and artefacts—both cultural and religious.
With firefighters bringing the fire under control, attention is being drawn towards the artefacts, to assess what all has been lost, much of which is priceless. According to latest reports, here's looking at what survived the fire, and what did not.
The crown of thorns
The crown of thorns | AP
The crown of thorns is a sacred Christian relic, believed to have been worn by Jesus Christ during his crucifixion. It is said the crown was bought by France's King Louis IX in 1239. Regarded as Notre-Dame's most sacred relic, the crown was quickly rescued from the cathedral after the fire broke out, Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregiore had said. As the Church observes Passion Week, commemorating the crucifixion of Christ, this news brings joy to Christians. However, the fate of other relics like a nail and piece of cross believed to be from Jesus's crucifixion, is unknown,
The great organ
The great organ | AP
Notre-Dame's great organ is a musical marvel that has stood the test of time. As majestic as the building that housed it , the great organ, said to be built in 1868, has five keyboards and around 8,000 pipes. There have been conflicting reports about the organ's 'well-being' after the fire. Though Paris Deputy Mayor Emmanuel Gregiore said the structure was intact, France's culture minister Reister said that the organ was 'quite affected by the fire'. One of the largest in the world, the great organ, has been renovated a couple of times over the years, the last being in 1992.
Rose windows
View of the north rose window (rosace) of Notre-Dame | Reuters
The famed rose windows—three stunning stained glass windows—have also survived the fire. There may be some damage to the windows owing to the fire and heat, but most of it is intact. The windows date back to the 13th century.
Tunic of St. Louis
The tunic worn by the 13th-century French crusader king, Louis IX | AFP
The tunic of St Louis, believed to have belonged to Louis IX, is said to be safe. Louis IX was king of France from 1226-1270. The tunic is said to have been worn by the king when he brought the crown of thorns to Paris. According to reports, firefighters and others formed a human chain to rescue the crown and the tunic, among other artefacts, when the fire broke out.
The spire
Smoke rises from the burning spire on the roof at the Notre-Dame Cathedral | Reuters
The Cathedral's iconic spire was the first and one of the most prominent casualties of the fire. Overtaken by flames, the spire collapsed. Dating back to the 12th century, the spire is significant in the nation's history—it was dismantled during the French Revolution, and later reconstructed.
Statues of the 12 apostles
Consultant Patrick Palem (R) checks statues that were removed from the spire of Paris' Notre-Dame Cathedral | Reuters
In a timing miracle, the statues of the 12 apostles of Christ were plucked out and air-lifted from the cathedral last week, due to ongoing renovation works. The copper statues, some of them placed just below the spire that collapsed under the fire, would not have survived had they not been moved in time. Restoration experts were planning to clean the tarnished statues and return them to the Cathedral by 2022.
The Cathedral is also home to many paintings, many of whose fate is yet unknown. Also unclear is the state of Notre-Dame's famous stone sculptures of gargoyles and grotesques. Sculptures of these mythical creatures adorned the cathedral's exteriors, atop the towers, watching over the city.
