CHAPTER V
The Cathedral
| 'How reverend is the face of this tall pile, |
| Whose ancient pillars rear their marble heads |
| To bear aloft its arched and ponderous roof, |
| By its own weight made steadfast and immovable, |
| Looking tranquillity.'—William Congreve. |
'LET us build such a huge and splendid temple that succeeding generations of men will say that we were mad.' So said the pious originators of Seville Cathedral, in the year 1401. After one hundred years, the temple was still unfinished, and to this day masons are at work upon the dome.
When San Fernando captured the city of Seville from the Moors, and made it his capital, the Mosque, which stood on the site of the Cathedral, was consecrated to the service of the Christian faith. It was used for Catholic worship until its disrepair became a reproach. Then the Chapter decided to erect a worthier fane, one which would astonish posterity. The Cathedral should be huge and magnificent, rivalling in its area all the other cathedrals of Spain. Toledo Cathedral is 'rich'; Salamanca, 'strong'; León, 'beautiful.' The Cathedral of Seville is called the 'great.'
In point of size the edifice ranks third among the cathedrals of Europe. It is the largest Gothic cathedral in the world, larger than Cologne and Milan. The superficial areas of the great cathedrals are as follows:—
| St. Peter's | 230,000 | feet square |
| Córdova | 160,000 | " |
| Seville | 125,000 | " |
| Milan | 110,000 | " |
| St. Paul's | 84,000 | " |