Building on belief: the use of sacred geometry and number theory in the Book of Kells, f. 33&lt;sup xmlns:m="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"&gt;r&lt;/sup&gt;
Megan M. Hitchens
Building on belief: the use of sacred geometry and number theory in Book Kells, f. 33r In last few decades there has been an increasing interest construction design pages Insular manuscripts from die seventh to ninth centuries. Most focussed Lindisfarne Gospels, with Janet Backhouse drawing attention marks reverse some manuscript, notably ff. 26v , 94v 21 l V while several other have analysed by Jacques Guilmain Inga Christine Swenson, latter concentrating symmetry.2 There also appeared a new emphasis page design, resulting better understanding meUiods used. The bulk work diis area carried out mathematician, Robert Stevick. Using visible front pages, Stevick attempted duplicate geometric methods employed scribes. Totiiisend, he examined St Gallen Gospels Book, cross-carpet Lichfield Evangelist Durrow Echternach Gospels.3 However, all these scholars wholly concerned widi physical appearance page. None addressed question why scribes such methods, which are places extremely complex, nor diey looked at meanings messages implied numbers associated this art. As gospels books were produced monastic environments, it seems reasonable assume that 1 Backhouse, Oxford, 1981, repr. 1989, pp. 28-3 2 Guilmain, 'On Layout Ornamentation Cross-Carpet Page Folio 138v\ Gesta 24.1 (1985), 13-18; "The Symmetry Potentials Ornamental Gospels', 17.2 (1978), 9-18, 15-16. 3 D. Stevick, 'A Geometer's Art: Full-Page Illuminations Stiftsbibliothek Cod. Sang. 51, VHIth Century', Scriptorium 44 (1990), 161-92; 'The 4 x Crosses 25.2 (1986), 171-84; Design Lindisfanje folio 138v', 22.1 (1983), 3-12; Shapes Symbol Pages', Art Bulletin 68 182-94; Gospels' Pages: Forms Two True Measures Geometry'", PeriliaS 284-308. P A R E G O N ns 13.2, January 1996—Text, Scribe, Artefact 122 M. Hitchens constructions underpinned theological considerations. aim paper is discuss possible influences crosscarpet particular Dublin, Trinity College M S 58, Kells (see Fig. 1). relationship between page, its period will be examined. Geometry reached West through writings Plato Pythagoreans. Republic, writes 'what [geometers] really seek get sight those realities can seen only mind'.4 For followers Pythagoras, form not merely related but direct equivalents. Pythagorean linked theory, assigned them cosmological meanings. instance, one (the perfect number) circle shape) both represent Creator, manifestation symbolised three triangle.5 Church Fathers adapted meet then own spiritual requirements. Origen (184-254 D ) wrote 'God made world according definite number, predetermined himself.6 Philo Alexandria, writing thefirstcentury, stressed importance six seven account world's creation astoldin Genesis 1: 2: 3.7 was days, signifying, Augustine, ages the...
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