Final answer:
The jamb figures at Chartres Cathedral primarily represent biblical figures from the Hebrew Bible, symbolically connecting them to French royalty and serving an educational purpose for the medieval population.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the jamb figures in the JAMB STATUES OF CATHEDRAL OF NOTRE DAME, circa 1145, at Chartres, France, is primarily to represent the prophets, kings, and queens of the Hebrew Bible. These sculptures were integral to the iconography of the Early Gothic period in France. Beth, an expert discussing these figures, confirms that they depict Old Testament characters and, by extension, draw a connection to the royalty of France, symbolically aligning the divine right of kings with historical biblical figures. It's also worth noting that these figures, through their representation and the stories they embody, served an educational purpose for the illiterate population of the time, teaching them about the tenets of their religion.
The Chartres Cathedral is a treasure trove of artistic and religious symbolism that teaches as much as it inspires awe, with various jamb figures and other sculptures on its façades and portals, each serving to communicate religious narratives and themes to the viewer.