The symbol at your door : number and geometry in the religious architecture of the Greek and Latin Middle Ages

Is the display of number and geometry in medieval religious architecture evidence of intended symbolism? This book offers a new perspective in the retrieval of meaning from architecture in the Greek East and the Latin West, and challenges the view that geometry was merely an outcome of practical procedures by masons. Instead, it attributes intellectual meaning to it as understood by Christian Platonist thought and provides compelling evidence that the symbolism was often intended. In so doing, the book serves as a companion volume to The Wise Master Builder by the same author, which found the same system implicit in plans of cathedrals and abbeys. The present book explains how the architectural symbolism proposed could have been understood at the time, as supported by medieval texts and its context, since it is context that can confer specific meaning. The introduction locates the study in its critical context and summarizes Christian Platonism as it determined the meaning of number and geometry. The investigation opens with the recurrent symbolism of the dome and the cube as heaven and earth in the Byzantine world and moves to the duality of the temple and the body in the East and West as reflections of Plato's universal macrocosm and human microcosm. The study then examines each of the figures of Platonic geometry in the architecture of the West against the background of their mathematics and metaphysics, before proceeding to their synthesis with the circle, as seen in circular and polygonal structures, the divisions of circles in Christian art, and their display in window tracery, culminating in the rose window. In view of the multivalency of the symbolism, the investigation establishes systematic occurrences of it, which strongly suggest patterns of thought underlying systems of design. The book concludes with a series of test cases, which show the after-life of the same symbolism as it overlapped with the Renaissance. Cover 1 Half Title 2 Title Page 4 Copyrigh Page 5 Contents 6 List of Figures 10 Acknowledgements 20 Prologue 22 Part One: The critical context 22 Modernism and the denial of meaning 22 Postmodernism and the retrieval of meaning 26 Part Two: Structure 29 Thesis 29 Method of approach 29 Terms of reference 32 Part Three: Historical introduction 32 Pythagoras and Plato 32 Arithmetic 33 Geometry 41 Number and geometry 43 The liberal arts 44 Image and anagogy 46 The architectural programme, patrons, and architects 54 Popular culture 66 Conclusions 69 1 The Sphere and the Cube 86 Part One: Heaven on earth 86 Hagia Sophia, Constantinople, and the symbolism of domed churches 86 Part Two: The Temple of Wisdom 105 Hagia Sophia, Constantinople, and the Temple of Wisdom 105 Part Three: The Greek Cross and Byzantine church design 117 The Church of the Holy Apostles, Constantinople 117 The Greek Cross inscribed in a square 121 The inscribed octagon 129 Symbolic interpretations 130 Part Four: Conclusions 139 2 Temple and Body 150 Macrocosm and microcosm 150 Temple and body 153 Cruciform man and his church 156 Union of the macrocosm and microcosm 162 3 Ad Triangulum 170 Mathematics and metaphysics of the equilateral triangle and its derivatives 172 The Trinity and Creation 174 Architectura ad triangulum 176 Number 176 The vesica piscis 178 The equilateral triangle 182 The Wheel of Fortune and the zodiac 186 Solomon’s Knot 192 The power of number 196 Conclusions 197 4 Ad Quadratum 202 Architectura ad quadratum 202 The square 202 Planning grids of squares 204 Quadrature 206 Biblical archetypes 212 The New Jerusalem 212 The Tabernacle 213 The Temple 215 Mathematics and metaphysics of the square and its derivatives 219 The square and the octagon 221 The square, the double square, and the golden section 221 The 1 : [omitted]2 rectangle 226 Diagonals of the square and double square 227 The musical consonances 227 Unity, equality, and harmony 231 5 The Architectural Geometry of the Pentagon 240 The mathematics and metaphysics of the pentagon and its relatives 240 The pentad and the pentagon in medieval architecture 243 6 ‘The Whole Frame of the Universe’ 252 The Platonic figures and the circle 252 Part One: Circular and polygonal structures 253 The circular shrine 253 The octagonal shrine 263 Polygonal chapter houses 274 Chevet design 281 Part Two: The circle as wheel 294 Wheels of fortune and life 294 Fortune and the zodiac 298 Ezekiel’s wheel 301 Wheel and rose windows 303 Part Three: Tracery design 304 Plate and bar tracery 305 Geometric tracery 307 Masons, glaziers, and iron-workers 308 Symbolism in tracery 313 Part Four: ‘The eyes of the cathedral’ 324 Symbol, context, and meaning 324 Conclusions 353 Epilogue 368 Part One: Conclusions 368 Summary of findings 368 Main conclusions 372 Part Two: Inferences and implications 375 Survivals of symbolism 375 Romance literature 375 Music 387 Continuing practice and forgotten knowledge 387 Bibliography 406 Index 426 Number and Geometry in Religious Architecture of the Greek and Latin Middle Ages The Present Book Explains How The Architectural Symbolism Proposed Could Have Been Understood At The Time, As Supported By Medieval Texts And Its Context, Since It Is Context That Can Confer Specific Meaning. The Introduction Locates The Study In Its Critical Context And Summarizes Christian Platonism As It Determined The Meaning Of Number And Geometry. The Investigation Opens With The Recurrent Symbolism Of The Dome And The Cube As Heaven And Earth In The Byzantine World And Moves To The Duality Of The Temple And The Body In The East And West As Reflections Of Plato's Universal Macrocosm And Human Microcosm. The Study Then Examines Each Of The Figures Of Platonic Geometry In The Architecture Of The West Against The Background Of Their Mathematics And Metaphysics, Before Proceeding To Their Synthesis With The Circle, As Seen In Circular And Polygonal Structures, The Divisions Of Circles In Christian Art, And Their Display In Window Tracery, Culminating In The Rose Window. In View Of The Multivalency Of The Symbolism, The Investigation Establishes Systematic Occurrences Of It, Winch Strongly Suggest Patterns Of Thought Underlying Systems Of Design. The Book Concludes With A Series Of Test Cases, Which Show The After-life Of The Same Symbolism As It Overlapped With The Renaissance.--book Jacket. Prologue -- The Sphere And The Cube -- Temple And Body -- Ad Triangulum -- Ad Quadratum -- The Architectural Geometry Of The Pentagon -- The Whole Frame Of The Universe -- Epilogue. Nigel Hiscock. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [385]-403) And Index.