by: Ayla McDonald
Fire lit up the Parisian sky on Monday, April 15, as the famous Notre Dame Cathedral went up in flames. People everywhere watched as the spire of Notre Dame crashed and burned, and all over the world hearts broke for France.
According to a CNN article released on Saturday, April 20, “The cathedral was undergoing renovations at the time of the fire… The fire devastated large parts of the 850-year-old building before it was finally extinguished after a nine-hour battle.” While the source of the fire is unknown, Parisian police are investigating whether the fire may have been started by an electrical short-circuit.
According to tourism website notredamecathedralparis.com, construction of the Gothic-style Catholic Cathedral began during the twelfth century, almost 900 years ago. “It was one of the very first Gothic cathedrals, and its construction took place throughout the Gothic period. Building work began on the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris way back in the 12th century, it was not until some 300 years later construction finally came to an end,” the website said. “It is now one of the most prominent cathedrals in France and one of the oldest ones too. The length of time it took to build is evident through the various styles of architecture that run through the building.”
According to an interactive history of the disastrous event titled “Notre Dame fire: What was damaged” created by journalists Jiachuan Wu, Daniel Arkin, and editorial designer Robin Muccari, the fire started Monday evening in the base of the spire and spread throughout, eventually collapsing the spire and the roof and damaging the Cathedral’s altar.
A masterpiece of art history and an important symbol of Paris, the Cathedral of Notre Dame has withstood the test of time, has survived two world wars and the French people are determined to see it through last week’s ordeal. In a newsletter released on Tuesday, April 16, Archbishop Michel Aupetit of Paris said, “Notre-Dame, our beloved Cathedral, witnessed so many major events in our country, was destroyed by a frightening fire after resisting so long to the adventures of its history. France cries and with it all its friends from all over the world. It is touched in the heart because its stones are the testimony of an invincible hope which, by the talents, courage, genius and faith of the builders, has raised this luminous lace of stones, wood and glass.”
As the tragedy of the fire occurred, today’s technology and social media allowed Parkland students to be abreast of what was happening in Paris in the moment, and to share the news with each other as well as with friends and family all over the world. Students were able to witness the historical event as it happened, but a feeling of helplessness was also experienced to watch parts of the Cathedral, such an ancient and beautiful work of humanity, become lost to time.
Parkland Student Trustee Nafissa Maiga is French-Malian and has been to France many times. When asked about her reaction to the Notre Dame fire, Maiga told the Prospectus, “Even though I’m French (and Malian) I’ve never lived in France, I only go on vacation and visit family. It’s still pretty tragic because Notre Dame is a huge part of French history,” Maiga said. “I remember watching this musical inspired from Victor Hugo’s book “Notre Dame de Paris” all the time with my siblings when we were kids. I mean, the building itself took years to build, revolutions happened there, it stood for so long, and I think the burning and rebuilding will be part of its history.”
