lilburne

The term "sacred geometry" is used by archaeologists, anthropologists, and geometricians to encompass the religious, philosophical, and spiritual beliefs that have sprung up around geometry in various cultures during the course of human history. It is a catchall term covering Pythagorean geometry and neo-Platonic geometry, as well as the perceived relationships between organic curves and logarithmic curves.

These geometric forms and ratios include, amongst others, the circle, sphere, spirals, perfect right angles, square roots of two and three, the golden ratio, and stellations of Platonic and Archimedean solids.

Using these forms, complex symbols like the Flower of Life, have been inscribed in many of the world's great Pyramids, Temples and Cathedrals dating back over 6000 years. Constructed using six-fold symmetry the Flower of Life is considered to be the most significant geometric pattern ever created. Used as meditation upon creation other forms can be found such as the Tree of Life that have importance in Jewish and Christian teachings.

One of the simplest of the sacred geometry's is the Vesica Piscis. Formed by the intersection of two circles each of whose centres lie on the circumference of the other, it symbolises a "shared vision" or "mutual understanding" between equals. The almond-shaped area of the overlap, when turned through 90 degrees, becomes the "all seeing eye". Furthermore, the ratio of its long axis to its short is the square root of the number three, which represents the Trinity.

This almond shape is a repetitive motif within the Flower of Life and was used in pagan cultures to represent the female genitalia. By extending the figure you obtain the fish symbol adopted by Christians as a symbol, as the initial letters of the Greek phrase "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior" form the Greek word ICHTHUS, which means "fish." This symbol was used by believers in the early days of persecution as a secret sign of their shared faith. One person would draw an arc in the sand, and the other would complete the sign to show his brotherhood in Christ.

In an age where few in society were literate the church used 'visual aids' to educate the laity in, at least, the rudimentary elements of the Christian faith.

Medieval art often portrayed Christ within the Vesica Piscis, or mandorla, which was also used to represent The Virgin Mary. A medieval hymn calls Jesus "the little fish in the Virgin's fountain." The symbolism can clearly be seen in the architecture of the Virgin's Fountain in Nazareth.

Medieval Christian architecture incorporated the Vesica Piscis within the design of its churches. The gothic arch being a prime example, but it is also incorporated into the design of the floor plans of many churches and chapels where the vesica defines the dimensions of the rectangular layout. Examples include The Mary chapel in Glastonbury Abbey, and St George's Chapel Windsor.

St George's Chapel is a 13th-century chapel constructed by Henry III, and rededicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, St George and St Edward by King Edward III in 1348, and the home of the Knights of the Garter, the oldest and most prestigious chivalric institution in England. The Order grew out of Edward III fascination with the figure of King Arthur, a paragon of kingly and knightly virtue. The present building dates from 1475, but remnants of the older chapel can still be seen on the site of the present Albert Memorial Chapel. The Garter Stalls are located in the middle of two intersecting vesica, where the Order meets for a special ceremony June, twenty-five men in the centre of the Virgin's box. As their motto says:

Honi soit qui mal y pense.
Shame on he who thinks ill of it.

Christianity is rich in symbols, commonly understood by people in medievel societies, but becomes a hidden language to the modern viewer. Sadly we have lost the ability to meditate upon such mysteries.