The Mystery of the Great Labyrinth

8/11/2019 The Mystery of the Great Labyrinth

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The Mystery of the Great Labyrinth,

Chartres Cathedral

by

John James

Source: Studies in Comparative Religion, Vol. 11, No. 2. (Spring, 1977). World

Wisdom, Inc.

www.studiesincomprti!ereligion.com

"#$ most %mous $uropen l&'rint is te gret one set into te %loor o% rtresctedrl mesuring o!er *+ cross.-1It is one o% mn', %or /ttews-2lists twent'

tree in curces witout including te mn' open0ir l&'rints nd mes mde o%

stones or cut into te tur% o% Irelnd, ritin nd Scndin!i. It is n e3tremel'

ncient de!ice, s te stor' o% te retn l&'rint sows. "ere ws n $g'ptin one

t #wr %rom &out 14++ .., nd i% te ide les %rom te /iddle $st it must &e

muc older, %or tere is one t New 5rnge in Irelnd dted se!en centuries erlier.

"e preltes o% te /iddle 6ges plced tem in prominent positions in teir curces

s testments to teir %it, &ut it too te eigteent centur' to recognise teir

essentill' pgn origins8%or te' destro'ed mn' o% tem: t eims, Sens, 6rrs,6u3erre nd St. mer, nd in te ne3t centur' t 6miens nd en. "e &rss pl;ue

in te centre o% te rtrin l&'rint ws pulled up t te sme time.

ect o% te twel%t nd tirteent

centuries. Its scred nture is indicted &' te nmes gi!en it trougout $urope

8emin de ?@ruslem, Ieruslem, nd it' o% 5od. "e one in Sn S!ino,Aicen, is inscri&ed

"e l&'rint represents te world we li!e in, &rod t te entrnce, &ut nrrow t te

e3it, so e wo is ensnred &' te >o's o% te world nd weiged down &' its !ices,

cn regin te doctrines o% li%e onl' wit di%%icult'.

It is not me, &ut single w'. It is not mindless tric &ut n ordered trc. "e

design used t rtres ws repeted in mn' oter plces including Bucc, nd te

/pp /undi in #ere%ordC nd wit em&ellisments t 6miens nd St. Duentin. "is

is w' te rtres l&'rint is so importnt8it is cnonic rrngement ppro!ed

&' te clerg', repetedl' used %rom one end o% $urope to te oter, nd plced inconspicuous plces in teir curces.
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"e most importnt ingredients re: ele!en concentric rings split into %our prts,

pt wic leds %rom te outside to te inside nd psses once o!er e!er' trc, nd

picture or n inscription.

$;ull' &sic is te rrngement o% te ptw'. It lw's enters on te le%t o% te

centre0line, nd psses strigt into te se!ent ring counting %rom te insideC nd ite3its into te centre %rom te %i%t. "is order is stndrd, s is te rrngement o%

trcs in &etween.

I% 'ou %ollow te pt wit 'our %inger 'ou will see tt we %irst tr!erse te inside

%i!e rings on te le%t l%, nd ten tose on te rigt. "e pt continues rigt cross

te top o% te si3t to >oin te remining outer %i!e circles, %irst pssed on te le%t nd

ten on te rigt. 6 cler nd consistent pttern. "ere is s'mmetr' %rom one side to

te oter, nd %rom te inside to te outside.

In te centre o% te rtres l&'rint tere d once &een %i3ed &rone pl;ue8

ten up nd melted %or cnnon during te e!olution8on wic ws incised mostun0ristin t&leu o% "eseus illing te /inotur wit 6ridne olding te tred

wic ws to sow im te w' ome.-E"is moti% ws not unusul eiter8

6miens ws clled te #ouse o% Fedlus, wile Bucc nd remon &ot depicted

"eseus in te centre nd mn' o% te oters were populrl' nown s Frdle.

In te 5ree m'ts Fedlus ws te legendr' rcitect wo in!ented mn'

&uilders tools, &uilt %l'ing mcine, nd lso designed te retn l&'rint. #e is

te rcet'pl mson, nd ws &'word %or te msters cr%t. n we tere%ore s'

tt tese mn' l&'rints were plced >ust to cele&rte te mster rcitects=

ertinl' te ones in eims nd 6miens commemorted te nmes o% te &uildings

msters, 'et te oter nmes gi!en te l&'rints 8o% ?eruslem nd so on8sow

tt tis ws not teir onl' messge.

We must not %orget tt te clerg' t rtres were %mous %or teir Altonic

scolrsip, nd rned, in te centur' &e%ore te ctedrl ws re&uilt, s te

%oremost centre in $urope %or tecing tese !iews. "eir W' ws te 5nostic one

troug nowledge rter tn troug %it. "eir indred order in te /oslem

world, te Su%is, wrote

ewre, %or lo!e lone witout nowledge, remins un%ocused, unimed, undirected.

"e conse;uences o% suc lo!e is pointless, leding to con%used stte o% perpetul#llelu> compr&le to te !illge idiots perpetul good umour. "roug te

medicine o% nowledge >o' is ncored so tt lo!e is directed to te Su&>ect o% ll

lo!e.-*

#ence we sould e3pect tt in rtres o% ll plces, e!er' o&>ect in te ctedrl

sould !e te sme purpose8to elp te pilgrim %ind te correct nd pro!en pt,

to gi!e im 6ridnes tred to led im troug li%es me.

"e l&'rint is composed o% num&er o% s'm&ols wic strie te pro%oundest

cords o% our su&conscious8te circle, te cross nd te spirl. "roug tese crucil

%orms te l&'rint is lined to mns inner world, to te ?ungin collecti!eunconscious, nd to te scred moti%s o% most cultures.
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In 6si te mndl is n id to medittion, nd in Snscrit te word simpl' mens

circle. "e circle is te primr' %orm o% te l&'rint, contining te ele!en rings, te

centre wit its si3 petls, nd te surrounding cogs. "e &sic %orm is smll circle t

te centre wit lrger one outside >oined &' crossed irs s in gun0sigt.

"e circle is te most per%ect geometric %igure, &eing te sme t te &eginning s tte end, s wit lp nd omeg. "e %our rms o% te cross re lie te s;ure, te

s'm&ol %or relit' wic represents te %our points o% te compss >ust s te s;ure

represents te enclosure o% te cit' wlls. We s' we stnd G%ours;ureG &'

someting, nd i% we re upset we s' we re GdisorientedG. Wen we mentll' plce

oursel!es t te centre o% te cross we %eel we now were we re, %or wit rms

outstretced we cn %ce te %ourw's nd cn locte oursel!es8we re GcentredG.

"e Gcit'G o% te pilgrims serc, te m'sticl ?eruslem, s %our wlls nd %our

gtes %cing te %our crdinl points %or te reson tt in our deepest su&conscious its

%our0ness tells us tt we re GtereG. Similrl' te ltr, were we now 5od, is

plced on %our legs, wile #is trut is contined in %our 5ospels. Ardise liewises %our wlls troug wic issue %our ri!ers, nd te li%e o% rist8te S!iour8

s %our stges: conception, &irt, cruci%i3ion nd resurrection.

"e %lowing o% wter nd te gtes re &ot %eminine tings, s is te enclosure

%ormed &' its wlls8or so te ps'cologists tell us. It is te dr nd te wrm, te

!en o% te unconscious were, s's te lcemicl te3t nown s te Ars Chemica,

G5od lies witin te &osom o% te cit'G8te /oter cit'C in te sme w' s rist

sits on /r's lp in contemporr' sculpture.

"o com&ine te cross wit te circle Grepresents te s'ntesis o% te %our elements

wic re %ore!er tending to %ll prtG.-HIt unites te circle o% woleness nd o%

spirit wit te s;ure o% mtter nd securit'. ?ung goes on to write

"e s;uring o% te circle is one o% te mn' rcet'pl moti%s wic %orm te &sic

pttern o% our drems nd %ntsies. It could e!en &e clled te rcet'pe o%

woleness. ecuse o% tis signi%icnce, te ;urternit' o% one is scem %or ll

imges o% 5od, s depicted in te !isions o% $eiel, Fniel, nd $noc.

In rtres tis &euti%ul s'm&ol is little more comple3 %or tere is lso centrl

circle eld in suspension &' te rms o% te cross. "e centre is pproc&le onl'

wit gret di%%icult', s wit te 5rden o% $den wic is seprted %rom te rest o%te world &' !er' gret spce8sometimes wter nd sometimes ring o% %ire. In te

romnces 5erwin s to pproc n islnd to %ind is true lo!e. Fet rows one

o!er te wter, nd s in te retn m't, "eseus te sun ero s to come to n

islnd to %ce is moment o% trut. "ese re te imges o% te unconscious8lie te

tles o% cities Gsurrounded &' strong, impregn&le %orti%ictions nd &' deep, dr,

impss&le ditcesG8wic me our &lood run ;uicer %or te' re so pro%oundl'

mening%ul.

"e centrl circle in te l&'rint is te ose, wic is te Bm& descri&ed in

e!eltion s &eing in te centre o% te #e!enl' ?eruslem. Fntes rist resides

wit te gret ose in te centre o% Ardise. "e rose grden is one o% te %!ourite
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llegoricl de!ices used &' lcemists nd courtl' pinters lie. /r' ws clled te

Gos /'sticG in te litn' o% Boreto.

"e rose is te centre wic is te cl'3: it is te centre o% te %lower wic is lso te

s'm&ol %or te opening to te !gin. "is cl'3 is clled te Gset nd &irtplce o%

5odG. It is lie te Adme o% te 5ret /ntr, wic mens te lotus.

In sercing %or our ?eruslem nd te pece it &rings we tr' to sunder our mentl

cins to rec rist in te grden, udd on te lotus, e in te depts o% te

c!e. "is di%%icult >ourne' underlies te s'm&olism o% te l&'rint, nd &eing W'

it s pt8nd un'n drew it in tePilgrim's Progress: it is spirl.

6 spirl ws cr!ed &' te entr' into one o% te &uril mounds t New 5rnge,

Irelnd. Aeople still cll te mound te spirl cstle, nd wile re!ol!ing teir %inger

in e3plntion te' s' Gour ing s gone to te spirl cstleG8mening tt e is

ded.

Bie te sne te spirl t'pi%ies det. ut ll det ptterns re%lect te drem witin

it o% ceting det nd &eing re&orn. #ence it is t te sme time one o% te gretest

li%e s'm&ols. "e sne lso s &ene%icent side8tt o% wisdom. "e two imges

re con>oined in te 5nostic w' wic sows ow we cn &e re&orn troug

nowledge (still current in te doctors cduceus wic s two snes spirlling

round rod). "e most long0li!ed m'ts o% eroes nd sun0ings re tose in wic

te ine!it&ilit' o% det is &roen8"eseus, Fedlus in %ligt nd rist re onl'

tree o% multitude. "e l&'rint com&ines te s'm&ols o% te spirl, te cross nd

te circle into single li%e0promising %ormt8connoting re&irt, certint' nd pece,

per%ect pece.

"e m't o% te /inotur ensrined t its centre is one o% te most importnt det0

de%'ing c'cles nown. It ws originll' moon m't: scri%ices re eld e!er' nine

'ersC tis is te tird occsionC tere re se!en &o's nd se!en girls8ll moon

num&ers nd so &elonging to te 5oddess. "e /inotur is te s'm&ol o% our

uncontroll&le mentl %orces. Ned, "eseus ills te /inotur using te dou&le

eded 3e clled &' te 5rees te labrus. Witout te elp o% 6ridne e would

!e %iled in te end, s %or im te l&'rint ws me8n entngling con%usion

s'm&olic o% te unconscious. nl' 6ridnes tred cn sow im te w' ome

(m) %ter e s illed te %orces o% te ego. Signi%icntl' 6ridne is te dugter o%

te ing wo ordered te scri%iceC nd is se not lso 6rinn, or 6nn, or Fin8te moter 5oddess ersel%=

"o rein%orce tis importnt %eminine spect, remem&er tt Fedlus wo &uilt te

l&'rint ws guided &' Asip te moon goddess, wo ws lso te moter nd

lo!er o% /inos, nd so te moter o% 6ridne. on%using= No, >ust di%%erent spects o%

te sme trut. ' guidnce (&e it tred or nowledge) te goddess (te !irgins

6ridne or /r') sows im ("eseus te pilgrim, or Fedlus te mster mson)

ow to rec into te unconscious to %ind enligtenment.

In rtres te %eeling o% te m't remins unltered toug te pgn elements

!e &een llegoriclised into ristin %orms. "eseus &ecomes te Ailgrim, te/inotur is sins, nd 6ridne remins te Virgin wose intercession elps te


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Ailgrim %ind is w'. /r', &' er &odil' 6ssumption to wic te ctedrl is

dedicted, nd &' er ptronge o% te se!en Bi&erl 6rts wic ws te &sis o% te

pters 5nostic &elie%s, sows mn te w' troug te l&'rint o% li%es

tempttions. It is per%ect pilgrimge m't nd, s ?ung e3plins, s'm&olises te

li&erting spects o% te moter imge rter tn te de!ouring spects, nd tus

%rees mn %rom is nim. igtl' did te urc engr!e tese pgn %igures into tecentrl &rone pl;ue o% te l&'rint.

"e rrngement o% te pt to te centre wic psses troug te le%t nd side

&e%ore te rigt, re%lects n e;ull' deep le!el o% imger'. "e 6r&s, te ncient

$g'ptins nd te Indins et wit teir rigt nds reser!ing te rigt nd %or ll

onour&le purposes, nd le%t %or ctions wic, toug necessr', re unclen. In te

"lmud te Arince o% Femons sits on 5ods le%t. #is nme is Samaelsring te sme

root sse'molmening le%t.

ur le%t comes %rom te ld $nglis lef or we, nd te 6nglo0S3on lyft&roen.

"e Btinsinistragi!es our sinister, nd te Jrencgaucheour guce nd gw'."e Aortuguese canhotomens le%t, nd lso miscie!ous. "is is uni!ersll'

ccepted di!isionC te ristin ritul is predominntl' rigt nded (&red nd wine

dministered in te rigt nd nd %rom le%t to rigt, nd is ten &' te communicnt

in is rigt nd), "i&etn pr'er weels turn to te rigt, s do clocs, dncing

Fer!ises nd /oslem pilgrims circling te K&. So tese distinctions re s

uni!ersl in our su&conscious s re te s'm&ols o% te cross, te circle nd te spirl.

In te iconogrp' o% te trnsept portl sculpture t rtres te lesser truts re on

te le%t or nort side8including te pst, te ld "estment nd te urc8wile

te %undmentl truts o% te New "estment, te %uture nd te Bst ?udgment re on

te soutLrigt side. Similrl' in te sculpture o% te tree western doors te le%t

concerns rists esurrection were te gross &ecomes spirit wile te rigt sows

#is Incrntion, or 5ods ppernce on ert, nd te reltionsip &etween #im nd

#is /oter to wom te ctedrl is pledged.

#ence, in te pt round te l&'rint, we tr!el round te le%t inside circles &e%ore

te rigt, nd te le%t outer ones &e%ore te rigt. Similrl' te penetentil mo!ement

round te ctedrl ws clocwise. 6lw's te mo!ement is te sme, nd ?ung sw

tis s te positi!e ction o% te ps'ce into deeper understnding o% its

unconscious. It is progress %rom te lesser to te greter, nd %rom te mundne to

te spiritul, nd m' &e %ollowed in te drwing o% te l&'rint in te %igure &elow."is suggests tt te mening o% te l&'rint m' &e %ound in te se;uence o% its

pts, %rom te outside to te centre. It lso suggests tt di%%erent menings re

ttced to te inner tn to te outer %i!e circles, %or ec is treted seprtel'C nd

tt tere%ore te centrl circle must !e specil signi%icnce.

"e le%t or nort door o% te ctedrl is concerned wit Knowledge, wile te sout

is concerned wit Mnderstnding.-Jirst to now, nd ten to relise8tis is te

5nostic w' in nutsell. "e rtres l&'rint ws nown s te emin de

?eruslem nd s te lieue or te legue8toug I m inclined to tin tt tis m'

&e pilgrims interprettion o% te more pproprite title o% lieu, te plce.-7I% so,

te l&'rint is te pt to te plce, te omeC to sintood or Nir!n !i nowledge o% te tings o% te le%t nd ten o% te rigt, %ollowed &' n understnding
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o% &ot le%t nd rigt spects. In &rod w' tis seems to &e te mening o% te inner

nd outer &nds o% %i!e8toug I sll &e more detiled lter.

"e word B&'rint ccording to 5r!es comes %rom te pre05ree wor labrus

wic mens ting to &e eld, nd in prticulr te dou&le0eded 3e. "e

scri%icil &ull ws illed wit te labrus. "e word s te sme root s te ltinlapis, e3 te 5ree la'asmening stone or gem. It ws used &' te medie!l

lcemists to nme te most importnt o&>ect o% teir serc8te lapis

philosophorum. "ere re spects o% tese menings eld in common, nd one lin

seems to &e troug te 3e to %r more ncient s'm&ol, wic is certinl' s old s

tl #O'O eigt tousnd 'ers go.

Peus olds in is nd tunder&olt, or so it ws clled nd drwn in nineteent

centur' pictures. ut te 5rees sowed im olding someting wic sometimes

looed lie dum&ell, nd e!en lie te labrus.

"e word %or it is keraunos, wic is not te common word %or tunder or ligtening."e root m' &e kerato destro', s Peus used is powers s s' god to nniilte

is enemies8tougt it could e;ull' &e relted to ceremics (%iring=), te corne o%

te e'e (centre=) or to te orn.

Indin nd "i&etn m'stics !e s'm&ol clled te dorj, representing te per%ect

stte were ll te contrdictions re united 8msculine nd %eminine, rigt nd

wrong, 'in nd 'ng.

"is is te centre o% te #rid'm round wic ll tings mo!e. #ere te world o%

illusion (te so0clled rel world) !nises nd ll energ' is gtered togeter into its

initil stte. Is tis s'm&ol relted to te Peus tunder&olt=

"is point o% per%ect rest is clled &' te inese lcemists te Fimond od', nd

in #indu te Fimond "under&olt. "under&olt= "e dimond is te rdest stone

nd cuts ll oters, 'et its trnsluscence is mo&ile, ;uic. It is %ull o% ligt, 'et solid8

s'm&ol o% dur&ilit'C weres te tunder&olt is te ligt nd sound o% e!en, te

power witout su&stnce nd te clp wic woe te uni!erse. #ere we !e ost

o% interrelted connections: dimond, lapis, tunder&olt, 3e nd l&'rint.

Bet us pproc te pro&lem in noter w'. "oug we !e &een tugt to regrd

lcem' s primiti!e cemistr', %rom te twel%t centur' it ws considered to &e testud' o% te reltionsip &etween mn nd te cosmos. "e' &elie!ed tt te

processes mn witnesses in e!en nd on ert mni%est te will o% te retor, nd

i% correctl' understood would 'ield te e' to is intentions. "e trnsmuttion o%

&se metls into gold ws n esoteric s'm&ol %or teir min o&>ecti!e, te

trnsmuttion o% te soul. Bie te 5nostic tecers o% rtres te lcemists sougt

5od troug nowledge. /r' 6ttwood, te %mous nineteent centur' lcemist,

wrote tt G6lcem' ispilosop', it is thepilosop', te %inding o% te Sopi o%

te mind.G

"e word itsel% is 6r&ic, nd toug te $uropens could !e deri!ed teir

nowledge o% lcem' %rom te sme 5ree sources s te 6r&s (te /inotur wsretn) it is pro&&le tt it ll cme %rom te /oslems, perps wit onstntine o%


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6%ric, gdd trined /oslem wo died mon in Itl' in 1+47. "e %irst

trnsltors were o&ert o% ester nd 5errd o% remon woring in te 11*+s l%

centur' &e%ore te rtres l&'rint.

Now, wen o'lt' is crowned te ing olds te or&, wic is di!ided cross te

centre (see drawing A on page !!). "od' it stnds %or dominion o!er te ert, &ut itused to men more tn tis.

Similr signs re used %or gold ("rawing #),slt (), grnet (F), Venus ($) nd %or

te ert (J).

ut te or& is te sign %or cinn&r, te most importnt ore in lcem' consisting o%

mercur' nd sulpur wic 5er&er implies re to &e seen s s'm&ols rter tn s

rel. Alin' clled it drgons &lood nd in te /iddle 6ges it ws lined wit te

Mro&oros drgon, sne wic consumes itsel%, nd ws te s'm&ol o% det nd

nowledge, o% per%ection nd o% power. It is circulr, nd consumes itsel% onl' to &e

re&orn, nd ence s muc in common wit te l&'rint.

In te s'm&ol o% te or& lie ll te menings ttced to cinn&r nd to te uro&oros,

wit te circle o% completeness nd te crossLs;ure o% te lapis. It is s'm&ol o%

unit'8%or te drgon d tree ers nd %our %eet (wic is te sme union o% spirit

nd mtter %ound in te serpent o% te Kundlini wic turns EQ times &e%ore

scending te spinl cord). It is te union o% tree nd %our, wic lie tt o% te

circle nd te cross is te point o% rest &etween te opposites.

"e si3teent centur' m'stic, ?o& ome, descri&ed te old trditions relting to

te Jls o% "under&olt wic d generted te powers %rom wic cme te

retion. #e wrote:

#ere rises te Spirit in te $ssence, nd it stnds tus ("rawing $ included in

"rawing below).

I% tou st ere understnding tou needst s no moreC it is $ternit' nd "ime, 5od

in Bo!e nd 6nger, lso #e!en nd #ell

Rwic is precisel' te imge o% te dorj:

"e lower prt, wic is mred tus ("rawing %) iste Jirst Arinciple, nd is te

$ternl Nture in 6nger, !i. te Kingdom o% Frness dwelling in itsel%C nd teupper prt wit tis %igure ("rawing &)iste Slniter

nd te Source Spirit o% 5od, nd te Word.


8/22

F6WIN5 1

6s wit te oter nlogous concepts te Slniter stnds %or te Arime /tter in its

&ene%icent spect, nd ws considered to &e te moter nd cuse o% ll te metls nd

slts, nd ence %irst cuse lie te lapisphilosophorum. It is %rom Slt nd Nitri, or

sltpetreC nd s gunpowder is lined wit Peuss tunder&olt8 ting o% destruction.

"ese two prts o% te or& %orm dulit' wic is centrl to te ide o% te dorj, nd

lie te #u to &e discussed lter. ome drws is own !ersion in is GDuestionsconcerning te SoulG s te Peus dum&ell gin (see "rawing ). ome is

trnscri&ing n ncient trdition in wic te dor>@Ldum&ellLor& represents te

com&intion o% &od' nd soul in wt ?ung clls Gte s'm&ol %or te creti!e union o%

opposites, uniting s'm&ol in te literl senseG.-4eing lso te %orm o% te

l&'rint tese oter de!ices sre te sme &sic ides o% pece, enligtenment nd

sl!tion.

In te est te dorjis untin&le witout te sint wo s cie!ed wt it stnds

%or. /n nd stte re insepr&le. In medie!l lcem' te lapis is lw's %ound

togeter wit te homoaltus, te Aer%ect /n, wic te' nturll' e;uted wit

rist. "e essentil resem&lnce to estern ides remins.

"us te s;ured circle o% te l&'rint stnds %or muc te sme ide s te dorj,

te lapisnd te Spirit in te $ssence8wic is te union o% opposites. It is drwn s

pt, so it is te w' mn must tr!el i% e is to %ind tt still, clm centre.(apisis

stone, s inpietra, or Aierre. rist spoe to Aeter8Gn tee sll I &uild m'

curcG8on roc wic is te %oundtion, plce ere clled ?eruslem. Surel' it is

not unimportnt in te istor' o% ides tt in te erl' centuries te min tret to

ristinit' cme %rom /itrs wose god cme out o% roc, in te w' tt rist

disppered into one t te end.


9/22

In ps'conl'sis ?ung %ound tt wen is ptients were &eginning to &e cured teir

drwings d certin elements in common, e!en toug te' new noting o% tese

ncient m'ts nd s'm&ols. "is con!lescent or emerging stge would o%ten &e

e3pressed s sne rrnged in clocwise spirl mo!ing towrds s;ure t te

centre. "e sne is te unconscious, te s;ure is te dimondLlpis wic is te new

sel%. ?ungs interprettion ws tt tese s'm&ols represented te mo!ement o% tepersonlit' towrds new stte, nd tere%ore to re&irt. "is is te imge o% te

l&'rint.

In /edie!l drwings te s;ure in te centre is /ercurius (sometimes e;uted wit

te Slniter, nd clled te S;ure nd te ircle) wom te lcemists clled te

Gmeditor ming pece &etween te enemies or elementsG: wic is te uni%ier o%

opposites gin. /ercur' ws Wisdom or Sopi, wic &rings us &c to te

&eginning8#ol' Wisdom nd te sne, /r' s te G"rone o% te 6lmigt'G nd

ptron o% lerning, te 5nostic ide tt troug er (or troug nowledge i% 'ou

pre%er) 'ou cn &e s!ed, or re&orn. #ence te %eminine spects, nd 6ridne wit er

tred. "is common %und o% s'm&olic lnguge, repeted in so mn' w's cross teglo&e, sows tt mns pt to 5od is essentill' te sme in ll cultures.

"e l&'rint tere%ore represents te nowledge necessr' to rri!e t te centre.

"e rtrin pt psses troug ele!en circles. $le!en is rter non0ristin

num&er, toug rist li!ed %or EE 'ers8ele!en times te "rinit'. We could rgue

tt ten is te most per%ect num&er nd tt one is te 6ll8so tt ele!en is te

per%ection o% 5od. ut tis is &it super%icil in suc mening%ul wor. Bsterie

;uotes %ourt centur' l&'rint wit te inscription Snct $cclesi wose num&er

&' gemtri would &e 11+.-9ut tis will not do eiter, %or most o% te l&'rints t

tt time d se!en rings, not ele!en.-1+

In clssicl times scolrs lie Alto nd /cro&ius rrnged te uni!erse into ten

circles8te %i!e plnets plus te sun nd moon, te %i3ed strs, te Primum )obile

wic gi!e te strs teir motion, nd te $mp'reum or ose o% Ardise wic is te

&ode o% 5od nd is sints. Fnte pro&&l' represented te medie!l !ersion wen

e seprted 5od %rom is sints8wic would !e gi!en ele!en ones8&ut ten

e lso dded twel%t, ring o% %ire.

#owe!er, wen Fntes ele!en rings re rrnged round te l&'rint te order o% te

trcs is not mening%ul. I% te ele!en rings re Altos ten plus one %or 5od wt is t

te centre= I% te ele!en re Fntes wit 5od t te centre, w' do we enter into?upiter nd e3it %rom te sun= "e' me no sense. riclow would plce te ert t

te centre, putting te entr' into Sturn wic is muc more mening%ulC &ut w'

sould te pilgrim %inis is >ourne' t te &eginning= ne o% is students, ?ne

rrol, drew most &euti%ul digrm %or tis rrngement wic splendidl'

illustrtes te l&'rints rigorous s'mmetr', &ut witout e3plining its logic.-11

"e onl' stis%ctor' reson I cn %ind %or te use o% ele!en circles comes %rom

outside ristin res. In erl' #indu numerolog' te most importnt srines d

ele!en roo%s, s in li tod'. "e Korn lists te 99 most &euti%ul nmes %or 5od

(E2 3 11): te igest is te un0nm&le, clled te Stte o% lindness. It is te

reti!e Arinciple itsel%, in wic 5od is undi%%erentited, pure nd %ormless: weree is te ne 1. "e ne3t igest stte is te #u. It is te %irst e3ltion, te
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primordil out%low o% te &ret o% te ne wen #e %irst sees #imsel% s &ot o&>ect

nd su&>ect. It is te %irst di!ision into spects &e%ore #e continues to te de%inition o%

rcet'pes, ten o% mtter, nd so on until te wole o% cretion s &ecome mni%est.

"is stte o% #u is s ig s mn cn rec in is ;uest. #e cnnot &ecome 5od, &ut

cn pproc te ose tus %r. #u is te most intimte nme %or 5od in /oslempr'ers, nd in te mntrs is repeted ele!en times. "e %lu is te unit' o% 5od

di!ided %or te %irst time, nd s te %irst dulit' is one T one, usull' drwn s two

stroes one &eind te oter so it is still seen s one, &ut nown s oneLone, or ele!en.

6noter dorj.

"e Su%is s' tt te #u cn onl' come to li%e troug nowledge, nd tt 5od

Glo!ed to &e nownG. #ere is te lin &etween te /oslem Su%i tecing, te

6lcemists, nd te 5nostic ristins 8ll &elie!ed tt to %ind te W' we need

wisdom.-12In ompostell ner /oslem Spin te side rces to te Aortio dell

5lori !e ele!en %igures cr!ed in rows: one s eigt crowned men plus 6dm,

$!e nd rist, wile te oter s ele!en ptrircs seted &eind mssi!e ropesuggesti!e o% 6ridnes tred. 6n undocumented0trdition sttes tt tis rc

represents te ?ewis concept o% li%e s it %lourised &e%ore rist %rom te &oo o%

$noc. /ummed lso re%erred &c to tis trdition.

$noc nd $li> were &ot rised to #e!en witout det8te onl' two to &e so.

"e' re te two witnesses in e!eltion II, nd te two e3tr %igures on te rtres

western centrl lintel. "e' represent te %irst dulit', nd Islmic trdition plces

&ot in te spere o% te sun in te sme w' s Fnte plces 5emini t te entrnce

to #e!en. ' locting te entr' in te constelltion o% te "wins, Fnte repets te

ide o% te #u nd te dorj: tt te w' into Ardise lies troug te

twinsLgtew'Ldulit' wic is te centre &etween te opposites. "e pt o% te

l&'rint is tere%ore te ele!en circles leding to te ele!ent stte, tt o% te #u,

te closest mn m' come to te sigt o% te 5lor'.

"ese ele!en wit te centre me twel!e, nd twel!e is te num&er o% completeness:

te totlit' o% te 'er, te %ull e3tent o% Isrel, nd so on. Ats plus centre tere%ore

represent ll tt is, in e!en nd on ert. "e cross witin it rein%orces tis, &eing

te %our directions wic encompss te ert, te %our 5ospels wic contin te

wole o% rists messge, nd te %our ri!ers o% Ardise wic s'm&olise te

l&'rints im.

Wt ten o% te pt= W' is tis prticulr trc so importnt tt it ws repeted

gin nd gin= 6dmittedl' its s'mmetr' is !er' &euti%ul nd would !e &een

pprecited %or tt lone. ut cle!erness is not enoug. "iners lie "ierr' o%

rtres nd ?on o% Slis&ur' would !e looed %or mening too.

In Aicen te l&'rint is set into mosic %loor, nd most o% te spce is ten up

wit te signs o% te Podic. In rtres te Podic is represented more o%ten tn

n' oter su&>ect e3cept te essentil scenes o% rists Nti!it' nd Fet. "e

esoteric menings gi!en to te signs were te closest ristin e;ui!lent to te

tecings o% te Korn &out te retion nd te edemption o% /n. "e' %ollow

te clssic pttern o% $!olution0In!olution wit te %i!e steps in wic 5od cretedte Mni!erse %ollowed &' se!en in wic mn %inds is w' &c to #im.


11/22

"is is not wt we see in te Podic tod', nd i% tod's interprettion were ll tere

ws to it tere would &e no reson %or te urc to !e used it so o%ten. "e

esoteric interprettion s &een discussed elsewere,-1E&ut te essentils re tt

6ries to Beo co!ers te retion o% li%e nd mtter, Virgo is te cretion o% /n, nd

Bi&r is mn in essence, is potentil nd is powers, including ego.

Scorpio is mns notion o% imsel%, is ttcment to mtter nd sel%. It is te point o%

coice were te wrong decision will &ring spiritul det. "e lst %our signs depict

te w' &c to 5od troug understnding nd spiritul consciousness, ending in

Aisces wose sign is not unlie te dorj*labrusitsel%.

6ries is set little prt %rom te oters s te un%ormed %lu3 o% priml energ',

preceding e!en te %irst &ret o% 5od, te #u. 6ries represents te ultimte wole.

nl' &' plcing 6ries in te centre o% te l&'rint does te order o% te pts !e

mening. "e innermost ring is tere%ore "urus nd te outermost is Aisces. (+his

arrangement is shown in the following drawing).

F6WIN5 2

#ence te stor' o% te l&'rint is tis: te pilgrim &egins &' entering into Scorpio

were e mes %irst decision %or rist, s te modern e!nglists will !e it. #e

ten psses troug Bi&r on te le%t wic is is egoLessence nd wic e must

understnd to some e3tent &e%ore e cn pprecite te rest.

"e ne3t series is "urus to Beo: wic is te stud' o% te retion o% te Mni!erse &'

5od, nd te genesis o% our world s nowledge. #e tr!erses tis series tree times,

once on te le%t s lerning process %ollowed &' te re!erse order in te est were,

%cing te ltr, e sees te retion wit te elp o% rist. Bstl' e returns %rom

"urus to Beo on te rigt restud'ing te pst wit new e'es nd tere&'

understnding it.
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"e %irst pss on te le%t is lie te messge in te nort doors o% te ctedrl, wile

te second pss on te est is in%luenced &' te teologicl %undmentls illustrted in

te western doors, nd te tird culmintes in te understnding tis nowledge gi!es

im o% 5ods purpose, s set out in te sout door.-1*"e messge is tt nowledge

wit guidnce gi!es understnding.

Jor te second time e enters into Bi&r, pssing cross te %ull l% circle on te

estern or top side. "e pilgrim now repprises imsel% in reltion to rist nd te

urc, nd >ust s tis pt lies s'mmetricll' cross te 3is o% te ctedrl, so te

pilgrim cn now see is ego in &lnced w'.

Jrom tis %irm position e %ollows troug te %i!e circles wic led im &c to

5od troug te sme tree0%old mnner s e %ollowed in te retion. 6t te end e

mo!es %rom AiscesLsintood &c to te rigt nd ;urter o% Bi&r troug wic e

psses %or te lst time, trowing o%% is ego. In innocence e enters Virgo wic is

&ot 5ods concept o% mn nd te Virgin /oter ersel%. "e Virgin st on 5ods

rigt nd so tt se could intercede %or mn, wo tere%ore psses troug er intoArdise. It includes te power%ul nd &euti%ul imge o% reentering te wom& to &e

puri%ied nd re&orn. "e spirl o% det culmintes in te resurrection.

"e return lies longside te entr', sowing tt mn d it in im %rom te

&eginning, onl' e turned to te le%t nd pt, not to te rigt.-1H$ssentill' te

rrngement wors lie mneumonic, wit te signposts wic mr te W'. It is

%ecund s'm&ol encompssing te entire medie!l world !iew wit te deepest m&it

o% te de!out.

"e W' culmintes in te Jirst Strengt o% 6ries seen s te reti!e Arinciple

surrounded &' si30petlled rose, nd contining te repet messge o% 6ridneL/r'

gi!ing te pilgrimL"eseus te tredLnowledge to con;uor is desires nd

ttcments, te /inotur.

"e geometr' used to set out te centre epitomises rist te S!iour wo welcomes

te success%ul pilgrim. "e si3 petls re%lect te per%ect si30sided %igure nd te %irst

Aer%ect num&er-1set in te %orm o% te ose o% Ardise wose cl'3 contins te

5oded. ut unlie te per%ect %igure wic is normll' closed wit no point o%

entr', te centre o% te l&'rint s &een esed open to let us in.

riclow s suggested tt te geometr' o% te centre o% te me is &sed on tirteen pointed str8te per%ection o% twel!e plus one. "e most ncient m'ts

relte te importnt conspirc' o% twel!e plus one8s in Solomon nd is twel!e

officers, /oses nd te leders o% te twel!e tri&es, omulus nd twel!e lectors, King

6rtur nd is doen or two doen nigts, nd tod' te >udge nd te >ur'men.

"irteen is te e3ct nd istoricll' pro!en num&er o% te witces co!en, nd let us

not %orget #ercules, ?son nd rist imsel%. Its nti;uit' is ttested &' Neolitic

gr!e in 5rnd o% doen umn seletons sitting in circle round centrl

seleton dressed in leter.

"wel!e s &een te num&er o% completeness t lest since Sumerin times, %or twel!e

monts is te %ull c'cle o% te 'er wose twel!e signs encompss te wole o%umn e3perience. It is closed nd per%ect in itsel%.-17ut %or te purposes o% te
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l&'rint it must &e opened to llow te tr!eller to enter. "roug rist we gin

entr' into Ardise, iterto reser!ed s n e3clusi!e lu&, %or no umn >oined te

gods on /ount l'mpus. "roug rist nd /r' we gin entr' into Ardise nd to

te crmed ose itsel%.

It is n ming e3perience to wl round te pt o% te l&'rint wit mn' oterpeople, to &e wre o% te cnging r'tms o% te circles, nd o% te rest o% te world

mo!ing in teir own plce on te w'. 6%terwrds we mesured te pt !er'

cre%ull', nd %rom te cogs round te outside to te edge o% te ose te w'

mesures 21.HH metres. "is is e3ctl' 7*+ Aes /nulis, wic is te mesure o%

te mster mson wo designed te l&'rint.-14"e l&'rint s %our ;urters, so

te lengt o% ec ;urter o% te w' spells GSnt /ri 6ssuntG8wic is

precisel' te dediction o% te ctedrl.-19"e pilgrim trul' psses long 6ridnes

tred to rec Ardise.

I% tis ws te sole &sis %or te design o% te l&'rint, it would &e ming enoug.

ut te medie!l msters nd curc scolrs lo!ed to ep mening on to mening,incresing te m'ster' until concepts tum&led o!er one noter wice!er w' 'ou

looed.-2+#l% o% 7*+ plus one (n llow&le ddition in numerolog' s it represents

te 6ll) spells GAter, Jilius et Snctus SpiritusGU "is num&er lso reclls te

importnt E7: te Western ose window ws designed &' te sme mster nd s E7

openings, nd ws surrounded &' 7* lrge cntus le!es.-21

"e cogs round te outside o% te l&'rint !e puled mn' people, %or tere re

112 o% tem, plus two l!es t te entr'. "e circum%erence o% te lrge circle ten

troug teir centres mesures 11* Aes /nulis, or one per cog.-22"e eigt

centur' 6r& lcemist ?&ir i&n #''n di!ided te %our elementr' ;ulities (ert,

ir, %ire nd wter) into %our degrees wit se!en su&di!isions gi!ing totl o% 112

positions wic &etween tem e3plined ll mterils, li;uids nd gsses %ound in

mni%est cretion.

112 is lso te num&er o% 'ers te moon tes to repet its /etonic c'cle si3 times,

nd tis is te c'cle wic determines te dte %or $ster. Booing &c on te /iddle

6ges %rom te twentiet centur' we must not %orget tt num&ers pro!ided tem wit

te clues to 5ods intentions in te w' te microscope or te computer does to us.

Sint 6ugustine wrote tt 5od creted te ert in Gmesure, num&er nd weigtG,

nd te isop o% 6u3erre wo d &een student t rtres >ust &e%ore te

l&'rint ws &uilt, wrote tt

num&er &inds ll tings . . . rules te world, orders te glo&e, mo!ing te strs, t'ing

togeter te elements nd mrr'ing souls to &odies, ert to e!en, te celestil to

te trnsitor'.-2E

So, let us continue wit num&er %or moment. "e entr' &eing to te le%t o% te centre

tere re HH cogs on te one side nd H7 on te oter, spelling G$cclesiG on te le%t

nd GFomineG on te rigt, wile te wole including te two l!es wic dd one,

spell GristusG nd G/ri /ter FeiG.-2*"e l&'rint s E1 cur!ed trcs nd *

strigt ones, nd EH spells te initils GV/G wic stnds %or te lessed Virgin

/r', in Btin o% course. "ere re 24 l%0round cnges o% direction nd si3;urters824 is te num&er o% 6nn te moter o% /r' wose sttue ppers in te
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nort porc, nd nd 24 re te %irst two Aer%ect Num&ers. "ogeter te' dd up to

E* wic is one o%% GV/G8EH8nd G/VG8EE8wic is /ri Virgo. #l% o% E*

is se!enteen wic is te letter GG stnding %or te esurrection.

"wice EH is 7+, wic spells G?esusG.

"rice is 1+H, wic is ppropritel' G"rinitsG nd Jour times is 1*+, or Gristos$stG.

5eometr' set te menings %or rcitecture s did num&er, wic is w' te rtre

pter plced Num&er nd 5eometr' t te top o% te rc o!er /r' on te western

doors. In tr'ing to disco!er te originl geometr' I re0e3mined riclows

suggestion tt te centrl circle d &een di!ided into tirteen e;ul prts. I%

mesured troug te centre o% te petls tere sould &e two prts %or ec petl nd

one %or te entr', &ut clcultions %rom te mesurements sow tt tis is not so.-2H

"e di%%erence is &out QG. "ere is no w' round tis pro&lem8i% te petls d

&een rrnged %rom te lines o% tirteen pointed str te idelied geometr' would

!e to %it te !erge mesurements more e3ctl' tn te' do. So we must seeelsewere %or solution to te petls geometr'.

FI656/ 1

"e dimeter o% te petls including te &nds round tem is te sme s te distnce

%rom teir centres to te middle o% te l&'rint. (See "iagram ). ut we ll now

tt i% we were to drw circle, nd round tt drw noter si3 o% te sme sie,

te' would ll touc one noter, %orming closed %igure witout n opening %or te

ptw'.


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"ere re tree circles round te perimeter, (as shown in "iagram&&&), ec

stemming %rom n importnt source, nd ec dding its mening to te wole. '

designing ec step in tree, nd &' using tree di%%erent circles to complicte te

perimeter, gret ricness s &een dded to te wole.

"e outermost one 6 is in!isi&le, %or it psses troug te centres o% te circles o% tecogs. It mesures E Aes /nulis8te num&er o% te V/ plus one. $c cog in

te circle mesures EL* o% tis %oot, so tt te dimeter o% 6 is *4 o% tese units,

wile te o!erll imginr' circle mesures *9 o% tem. *4 spells GINIG wile *9,

s te importnt se!en se!ens, spells GISG.-27

"e second circle mrs te ctul outer circum%erence wic cuts troug te 11*

smll circles, nd mes teir cog0lie spe. Its dimeter is one tent o% te o!erll

internl lengt o% te ctedrl %rom te western doors to te estern cpel. -24"e

ctul error is so sligt tt tis must !e &een te msters intention: te l&'rint

ws not onl' s'm&ol %or te W', &ut ws lso model o% te ctedrl itsel%. "e

ctedrl represents te imge o% ?eruslem on ert, nd in te microcosm o% tel&'rint is te e3pression o% te curcs role in guiding men long teir >ourne'.

"e lst circle F is deri!ed %rom te crossing t te centre o% te ctedrl. In te

%irst pln prepred &' te sme mster wo &uilt te l&'rint, te crossing d

mesured H 3 *4, spelling te titulrs %or ?esus nd /r'. "us te centrl spce o%

te curc represented rist te son wit te Virgin /r', wic ws te simplest

e3pression %or te urcs position t tt time. "e digonl in medie!l geometric

prlnce represents te union o% te sides, nd is tere%ore te repetition o% te

sttement in te west portl o% rist entroned on is /oters lp.

FI656/ *

"o clculte circle F e too tis digonl (shown in "iagram &-), nd on it drew

circle0te per%ection o% te wole s s'm&olised &' te union o% rist nd /r'.

Witin tt circle e drew te tringle o% te "rinit', te 5oded witin te wole,-29nd te side o% tt g!e circle F. "ese tree circles lin te l&'rint to te
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rest o% te &uilding, nd troug teir interction gi!e it tt li!ing ;ulit' wic we

so surel' recognise.

"e lst circle F ws te one mentioned erlier wic ws di!ided into twel!e prts

8to signi%' tt it ws te totlit' o% tings. 6t te centre te' drew te si3 circles o%

per%ection nd te centrl one8m8wic ws modi%ied to pro!ide n entr'. (+hisprocess is shown in "iagram -).

FI656/ H

"e ring round te centre ws ten di!ided into ele!en trcs, nd te widt o% ec

ws gin di!ided into ele!en prts, two o% wic mde te solid strip &etween te

trcs. "e proportion o% te trcs rein%orces te num&ers wic creted tem.

"is is simple nd mture rrngement. rist nd /r' con>oined troug te

Spirit, te tringle, %rom wic is %ormed te circle o% te W'. "e W' represents

te wole nd is tere0%ore di!ided &' twel!e, wic includes tree prts to descri&e

te ose o% Ardise nd its petls, nd nine to %orm te ele!en0%old ptw'.5eometr' nd num&er e3press nd respect te essentils, nd i% n' o% m' reders

dou&t teir dediction to tese concepts, red Simson.

Bstl' consider te position o% te l&'rint in te n!e o% te ctedrl. -E+"e word

n!e s te sme root s n!l, nd lie te 6r con>ures up imges o% support midst

te terrors o% te deep 8te support o% reson wen te powers o% te unconscious

loom &e%ore us, nd tis is wt te l&'rint is &out.

Jurter, te entire curc represents messge similr to tt written into te

sculpture8tt te cross03is %rom nort to sout is tt o% /r' nd te Wisdom se

&rings, wile te long 3is is mns understnding nd consciousness s e proceedswit tis nowledge %rom te temporl, te west, to te snctur' nd te scred. It
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lies t te &eginning o% tis pt to sow te W', wile te im lies t te oter in

mns contct wit 5od in te $ucrist. "e l&'rint is mns pt wile te ltr in

te est is 5ods.

In 6sin tining plce s importnce wen it possesses %our tings: te temple

nd te plce wic togeter pro!ide purpose nd order, te mret plce weremns cti!ities interct, nd te crossrods wic &ring men togeter. "e medie!l

ctedrl is te western sttement o% tis ide. It is cross rods wit %our rms nd

centrl pointC it s its temple in te snctur'C nd in te e3tremities o% te tree rms

re literll' plced te mret, %or ere te scri&es, lw'ers, goldsmits nd

&oosellers were to &e %ound. "e plce occupies te n!e.

"is imge is s %ull o% menings s te oters. "emple &lnces plce cross te 3is

o% mens cti!ities, wose >oint ts it is to see to teir %uture nd wel%re. "e ltr is

te supreme s'm&ol o% te temple, usull' contined &eind its own screen, wile te

l&'rint represents tt spect o% te plce wic s to do wit mns guidnce

towrds 5od nd te temple. It is te W' witin te temporl, nd in te ctedrl itis properl' plced t te &eginning o% te tr!ellers pproc to te snctur'.

6ll o% us %eel te gp &etween our own world nd te trnscendentl. In some

societies te oter world is denied, nd in oters it is enlrged nd mde closer

troug m'sticism. "is oter world is not percei!ed &' our senses, &ut we respond to

its powers8we now it unconsciousl', wic is te sme s s'ing tt we now it

m'sticll'. "o te e3tent tt te ctedrl nd te l&'rint witin it e3press tis

m'sticl union, te more tngi&le te spiritul &ecomes, nd te more is te

trnscendentl mde rel.

Wen we consider te !st ost o% menings contined witin tis one de!ice, is it

n' wonder tt te l&'rint &ecme one o% te most importnt s'm&ols used in

medie!l curces, nd tt tod' it is gin &eing recognised, &ecuse our erts

tell us its messge= Its lnguge is s !lid %or our emotions s it ws %or teirs: te

onl' di%%erence is tt troug te purit' o% teir nowledge, teir understnding ws

ricer tn ours.

IBI56A#@= 6lin de Bille, G6nti0ludinG,

Aildelpi, 19EH.

-2*?ust in cse 'ou re now tining tt 'ou cn me n' num&er %it some prse

or oter, tr' it out wit te ones used in te middle ges, nd wit teir spelling.


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!e &een good %irst step, s it represents te ;uternit' o% te #u. ut neiter re

ccurte enoug to &e ccept&le.

-24"e o!erll lengt o% te ctedrl, in spite o% cnges mde &' lter msters, is

129,1++mm, wile te dimeter o% tis circle is 12,44Hmm. It is importnt to note tt

te lengt o% te ctedrl, or i% 'ou lie te internl spce o% te temple, determineste num&er o% d's in te 'er: EH 1L* Aes /nulis is 129,+H7mmU 6ll

mesurements o% te ctedrl nd o% te l&'rint !e &een mde wit te gretest

possi&le ccurc', sometimes &eing repeted mn' times, ceced &' teodolite

sur!e' nd cre%ull' prepred string lines. Were possi&le mn' e3mples mesured

nd !erges ten. See in prticulr c. VIII o% "e ontrctors.

-296s rist sits witin te mndorl in te centrl t'mpnum in te west.

-E+In "e ontrctors I sow tt te initil geometr' used to set out te &uilding

stretces %rom te ltr under te rondpont in te est to te centre o% te l&'rint in

te west, nd tt ec represents pole o% te curc, round wic rdite tecpels nd towers, te trnsepts nd te isles8&ut centrl to e!er'ting is te core

sttement wic lies &etween tese two crucil o&>ects.

riginl editoril inclusions tt %ollowed te ess' in Studies:
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The Mystery of the Great Labyrinth