Architecture, Mysticism and Myth

by W. R. Lethaby

Overview

This classic explores the symbolism of classical architecture. A milestone in relating mysticism to design, it shows the correlation between mythology and the design of St. Paul's Cathedral, the Taj Mahal, the Palace of Versailles, and other architectural masterpieces. This delightful book describes the symbolism of real-world architecture, as well as architecture described in fiction, myth and folklore. Lethaby believed that architecture reflected the macrocosm. He speculated that many of the seemingly ornamental details of classical buildings actually represented aspects of the land, the sea and the sky. This is one of those books like the Golden Bough or the White Goddess (albeit shorter and a less challenging read) that will turn you on to the mythopoetic side of reality, no matter whether you agree with its conclusions.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783736819467
Publisher:	BookRix
Publication date:	01/09/2019
Sold by:	StreetLib SRL
Format:	eBook
Pages:	314
File size:	816 KB

Table of Contents

	Frontispiece: Ziggurat of Belus at Babylon	128
	Introductory	1
I.	The World Fabric	9
II.	The Microcosmos	32
Fig. 1.	Chinese 'Hall of Distinction'; Buddhist Plan of the World; Astrologers' Houses of the Sky	46
Fig. 2.	A Buddhist Tope	48
III.	Four Square	53
Fig. 3.	Ezekiel's City	63
Fig. 4.	Chinese Plan	63
IV.	At the Centre of the Earth	71
Fig. 5.	The Four Rivers and Central Tree	75
Fig. 6.	The Central Stone of Delphi	79
Fig. 7.	The Same	80
Fig. 8.	Plan of Dome of the Rock	89
V.	The Jewel-Bearing Tree	95
Fig. 9.	Indian Lamp Tree	115
Fig. 10.	Greek Lamp Tree	116
Fig. 11.	The Golden Candlestick from the arch of Titus	117
VI.	The Planetary Spheres	122
Fig. 12.	Seven-Walled City, from 1481 Dante	137
Fig. 13.	The Throne on Seven Steps of the Heavens	138
VII.	The Labyrinth	149
Fig. 14.	Floor Labyrinth at Ravenna	151
Fig. 15.	Early Coins of Crete	153
Fig. 16.	Isle of Crete, from the Hereford Map	154
VIII.	The Golden Gate of the Sun	174
Fig. 17.	Door Lintel, Ebba, Carthage	178
Fig. 18.	Syrian Tomb Door, Galilee	180
Fig. 19.	East Toran, Sanchi Tope	182
Fig. 20.	Phoenician Toran, Coin of Paphos	183
Fig. 21.	Chinese Tomb Door, Canton	185
IX.	Pavements Like the Sea	201
Fig. 22.	Marble Pavement, Constantinople	211
Fig. 23.	Roman Pavement, Cirencester	213
Fig. 24.	Pavement Patterns, The Baptistery, Florence	216
X.	Ceilings Like the Sky	221
Fig. 25.	Mosaic Dome, Ravenna	223
Fig. 26.	Egyptian Goddess of the Sky	231
Fig. 27.	Egyptian Temple Ceiling	233
XI.	The Windows of Heaven and Three Hundred and Sixty Days	235
XII.	The Symbol of Creation	254
Fig. 28.	Italian Canopy, from a Tile	259
Fig. 29.	Italian Lamp from Mantegna	261
Fig. 30.	Ostrich Egg from Mycenae	269

Introduction

Buildings reflect the culture of their creators, and civilizations express their dominant myths and archetypes through their architectural designs. This remarkable book, written from an architect's point of view, examines the inherent mysticism common to architecture around the world. Author W.R. Lethaby, the first Professor of Design at the Royal College of Art and a leader in the Arts and Crafts Movement, explores the intentions behind architectural structure and form. In doing so, he reveals the esoteric principles behind such grand buildings as St. Paul's Cathedral, the Taj Mahal, and the Palace of Versailles. Originally published in 1891, Architecture, Mysticism and Myth was among the earliest studies of the correlation between mysticism and the design process. Its examination of folk customs, myths, and folktales of many ancient civilizations demonstrates that architecture extends far beyond the obvious issues of style and function. Buildings are shown to harbor arcane meanings-secrets that lie deeply embedded in the human psyche, related to ancient and universal symbolism. Fascinating and far-reaching in its influence, this historical study is regarded as the architectural equivalent of Sir James George Frazer's The Golden Bough.