A New Home for the Sun King

1. A New Home for the Sun King ~22m

2. Besides a dislike of Paris, Louis also built Versailles from a love of outdoors and/or a desire to show his power by building an unfortified palace in the open country. ~22m

3. Left: A contemporary overview of Versailles in its early stages of development, with Louis XIII’s original hunting lodge in the background, flanked by the newer wings of the palace

4. A detail from the previous painting, showing Louis’ coach approaching the palace gate. Until the court officially moved to Versailles in 1682, Louis used Versailles as an escape from the crowded activity of his palace in Paris.

5. Louis’ cavalry, riding in a spiral pattern, approach the front gate of Versailles flanked by Louis’ special palace regiment, the Swiss Guards

6. Outside of the palace, a coach waits to take the victims of an altercation between two nobles in sedan chairs, probably over right of way on the crowded road. Meanwhile, in the bottom right, the nobles’ servants continue the fight.

7. Outside of the palace, a coach waits to take the victims of an altercation between two nobles in sedan chairs, probably over right of way on the crowded road. Meanwhile, in the bottom right, the nobles’ servants continue the fight. During the ancien regime, a hat and a sword could be hired at the front gate in order to be properly attired to visit the Grand Apartment. Monks were not allowed in.

8. Hidden symbols at Versailles

9. Symbolism in numbers. The palace wings had 153 windows, that being the theosophical sum of 17 (i.e., the sum of all the integers from 1 to 17). Seventeen symbolized the path to spirituality, as in the number of rows of columns in the Parthenon and windows in the Hall of mirrors. The garden facade of the central part of the chateau is architecturally deceptive, because there are no rooms behind the windows on the top floor.

10. The symbolism of numbers in the South Garden. The central walkway on the right is lined with 16 yew trees, the number symbolizing material power. Each garden bed has 6 yew trees, the number for Satan and dispersal. The yew tree also symbolizes death. All of these serve as an allegorical warning against the dangers of materialism

11. The symbolism of numbers in the South Garden. The central walkway on the right is lined with 16 yew trees, the number symbolizing material power. Each garden bed has 6 yew trees, the number for Satan and dispersal. The yew tree also symbolizes death. All of these serve as an allegorical warning against the dangers of materialism The artificially imposed geometric order of Louis’ gardens, along with symbolizing Man’s rational and scientific understanding of natural laws, also showed Louis’ power over nature.

12. In addition to the very classical and medieval symbolism embedded in the grounds of Versailles, there was the modern theme of rationality, especially as seen in the geometric design of the various gardens and even how the bushes were cut.

13. To celebrate the scientific revolution then taking place, Versailles was even aligned 23.5º off of true north to correspond to the tilt of the earth’s axis.

14. The Orangery which in Louis’ time had 2000 Orange trees (1800 presently) that were moved indoors for the winter. Since they were pruned closely for more geometrical shapes in the manner of French gardens, they bore no fruit.

15. The Orangery as depicted in a contemporary painting

16. Neptune’s fountain, with 22 jets & 99 vases, at the north end of the N-S axis. As Louis, his artists, and most of his courtiers knew, north was the direction where life began.

17. The Fountain of Latona in the center of the grounds, showing the mother of Diana and Apollo pleading to Zeus to punish the villagers trying to deprive her and her children of water.

18. The Fountain of Latona, showing the evil villagers being turned into frogs. Just as Apollo, the Sun god represents Louis, the Sun King, Latona represents Louis’ mother, Anne of Austria. Her triumph may also represent the triumph in the Fronde over the vulgar populace (i.e., frogs), as does another statue of Apollo killing the Python at Delphi.

19. The Apollo Basin where the chariot of the Sun God emerges to take its course across the heavens.

20. The statue of Latona looking toward that of her son, Apollo the Sun god and the Grand Canal beyond.

21. In addition to the references to Louis, Apollo had several striking parallels with Christ: being born after a journey imposed on his mother, receiving lavish gifts shortly after being born, a forced exile caused by the wrath of the mighty, devotion to his mother, and defeat of the serpent.

22. The fountains of the Apollo Basin

24. The extensive hydraulic systems for bringing water to Versailles’ fountains used 10 windmills and 120 horses working in relays of 40 around the clock.

25. Part of the 200 kilometers (130 miles) of subterranean channels and aqueducts built to supply the fountains of Versailles.

26. To conserve water, fountain guards were ordered to whistle when Louis XIV approached, so that the fountains could be turned on.

27. Some idiot tourist about to take a dip in the fountain. Such an action can cause brain damage, since the water is only 2-3 inches deep.

28. The same idiot pretending to fall in the water. Unbenownst to this tourist, French law prescribes the death sentence for such a violation of this symbol of the French nation.

29. Bushes make great friends, too

30. And they can be dressed in funny masks when the French guards aren’t watching.

33. Uni students carrying on the tradition. This is the last known picture of either of these girls.

35. Various statues representing the great rivers of France. They are reclining so they don’t interrupt the majestic view of Louis’ palace. The Loire River The Marne River The Saone River

36. The Garonne River The Dordogne River The Seine River The Rhone River

37. ????????!!!!!!!!!!!

38. An Amazon warrior. The grounds of Versailles are lined with numerous classically inspired statues.

40. The Medici Venus & an ardent admirer.

41. Tiger and bear

42. Most of the chateau’s grounds retained their natural simplicity so Louis could enjoy his hunts, among other things.

43. Inside the Palace

44. The Hall of Mirrors had 17 windows (the number symbolizing the quest for spirituality) opposite 17 mirrors. In front of each of the windows was a solid silver tub with an orange tree and between them were 16 solid silver tables. There were also 17 great silver chandeliers, 26 smaller ones and countless candelabra on gilded stands.

45. How the Hall of Mirrors may have looked in Louis’ day. The Palace was so poorly policed that thieves stole gold bullion from curtain fringes of a salon & the king's silver chamber pot from under his bed. Supposedly nobles were allowed to hunt foxes in the palace during winter.

46. The theme for the whole set of ceiling paintings in the Hall of Mirrors was a history of Louis’ reign. (Colbert advised the king not to glorify himself in a way that would insult other countries.) The central ceiling painting was originally titled “Louis the Great in the flowering of his youth, took the helm of the State, and forgoing repose and pleasure, gave himself over entirely to the love of true glory.” Luckily, Louis chose the simpler title The King Rules Alone, so we wouldn’t have to waste our time reading the longer one.

47. Coach of the Dauphin, son of Louis XV

48. A sedan chair which a noble would sit in while servants carried him around. This mode of transportation was especially popular in congested city streets where horse drawn carriages could hardly make any headway.

49. The hierarchy of chairs Where would you sit…. …or would you get to sit at all?

50. There were countless squabbles at Versailles over who had rank over whom and who walked closest to the king, helped him dress or undress, who had to pass the collection plate in mass, which churchyard one was entitled to be buried in, and who got to hold Louis’ potty chair.