Architecture, one of the most fascinating art forms, is often perceived as cultural symbols as well as a work of art. For hundreds of thousands of years, people have constantly looked for ways to build bigger and taller architecture. It was until the 12th century, with innovative engineering discoveries, that the size and scale of architecture reached an unprecedented level that not even modern architecture could compete with. Taller than the ancient pyramids of Egypt, large enough to hold the Statue of Liberty; with a hundred million pounds of stone, seemingly weightless, yet as heavy as the Empire State Building. This is a revolution in architecture: Gothic cathedrals.1 This essay will focus on showcasing the beauty of Gothic cathedrals. In this case, there are 3 main innovations that make the construction of a Gothic cathedral possible. The first innovation is the pointed arch, which was the defining internal feature of Gothic architecture. It was used to direct weight onto supporting columns at an acute angle, thus allowing for much higher vaulted ceilings.3 Its significance was both practical and decorative. On the one hand, the pointed arch effectively distributed the force of the heavier ceilings and could therefore support much greater weight than the earlier pillars we saw in the Romanesque period; on the other hand, in my opinion, the pointed arch has a clearer perspective than the Romanesque round arches. The second innovation is the ribbed vault. A cross vault is an arched shape created by the intersection of two or three barrel vaults used to support the weight of walls or roof. Using a combination of pointed arches and ribbed vaults allowed the cathedral walls to be built thinner, taller and to have more space for openings. Ribbed vaults could appear utilitarian or highly decorative depending on where they were located in the cathedral.4 The third innovation is the flying buttress, which is another character-defining feature of the medieval Gothic cathedral. A flying buttress is made up of two parts: the buttress, a large block of masonry; and the "flyer", an arch that extends between the buttress and the outer wall. A flying buttress by Imagine that when ordinary people entered the cathedral, for the first time in their lives they were immediately amazed by the height and beauty of the stained glass windows. These glass walls depict stories from the Bible, such as Adam and Eve, Noah's Ark, and the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. In an age when few people can read and write, stained glass windows become the multimedia stories of their times, the Bible written in the light. 6 And then they look up and see the beautiful ribbed arches spanning the ceiling, they must all feel so lucky and touched to be in such a sacred place. They were probably just wondering, saying, “What is this? Am I in heaven right now?" And I think that was moving. At least I'm still moved by this beautiful imagery