Gothic architects, freed by new structural innovations, like buttress and pointed arches, used them as an opportunity to create larger, more light-filled spaces. Taking the idea of the Roman oculi, a small circular window that allowed more light into the space, Gothic architects expanded the idea into elaborate, beautiful circular designs.
The Gothic rose window symbolized unity and wholeness created from perfectly balanced parts. Later, as the terminology of ”rose windows” evolved, the windows became a symbol of the Virgin Mary.
Rose windows evolved from the Roman oculi’s, typically smaller circular windows without glass that allowed more light into the structure. Often placed on the west facing wall, rose windows allowed grander and more beautifully intricate designs in a circular format.