Description
Upper part of Christ figure
The tympanum of the central portal leading from the narthex to the nave is dominated by a figure of Christ in a mandorla. Christ is sitting on a throne in a contorted pose, with His knees twisted to the right. He has a halo with a cross on it, and wears a long garment with many small folds. His feet are bare. His arms are outstretched beyond the edges of the mandorla and rays (of power? Light?) stretch from them to the heads of twelve smaller figures ranged on either side of Him. Behind the hands are forms which are generally thought to be clouds. The one on the left has a loose wave-like pattern, while the one on the right has tighter curves. This figure is much larger than any other in any of the portals.
The subject of the tympanum is disputed by scholars- some see it as the Ascension, others as the Pentecost or as Christ in Majesty,or as some conflation of these New Testament themes.
