Cathedral of The Black Madonna: The Druids and the Mysteries of Chartres by Jean Markale argues that Chartres Cathedral is built upon an ancient Druid sacred site, representing a continuity between pre-Christian Mother Goddess worship and the veneration of the Black Madonna. Markale explores the “Virgo Paritura” (virgin about to give birth) and the mystical, alchemical, and historical connections of the site, proposing that the Black Madonna symbolizes creation emerging from primal darkness.