Wow, Internet. You are fast. Specifically, Nina is fast. Good job also to Michael, Jason, and Jessica.
The other day I asked “Why is there a lobster carved into the Notre Dame Cathedral?“. Turns out that it’s not exactly a lobster — it’s a crab.
The door that they now use as the exit of the cathedral is called the Portal of the Virgin, and the panels around it represent the cycles of earthly life. The “lobster” is Cancer the Crab, and represents June.
One thing that came up often is the idea that the symbolism of the lobster might have something to do with the fact that it used to be a poor man’s food. It turns out that is true, but only in North America. When Europeans first started coming here, lobsters were everywhere along the coast. It was easy to harvest them, so poor families who didn’t have other options for food would go out to the water and bring them home. Over time, lobster became known as a food for the poor.
In Europe however, people were really into them. The Romans used them as subject matter in the arts and the Turks used their shells as inspiration for armor. Lobsters were widely used for treating inflammation of the eye, stomach aches, epilepsy, kidney stones, and other urinary conditions. In France, a type of lobster called the Royal Blue was eaten by the upper class families, and they even had artists depict them eating lobster.
So, when they were building the cathedral, people were really into Nature, which is reflected in the belief in Zodiac signs, and that’s why it surrounds one of the main doorways.
Learning is awesome!
Bonus links:
Dude, Adrian is fast. I answered sarcastically first, then about a minute later he gives you the real answer. I think he’s been cheated!