Architecture, Mysticism and Myth

 

By W. Lethaby. Distributor: Lulu. $37.99. 326 pages. Paperback CQ. 2016 (1892).

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 nature. It is a book to be read in parallel with Ruskin’s Seven Lamps of Architecture for anyone who seeks to investigate further the esoteric concepts of Architecture, Architect, and Builder and Mason.

Two reviews of his work are worth considering, that of D. van der Plaat, 'The Significance of the "temple idea" in William Lethaby's Architecture, Mysticism and Myth (1891)', NCAW, 2002, 1(2) and that of V. Goryunov et al, 'Architecture, Mysticism and Myths in the Works of Outstanding Architect William Richard Lethaby', Procedia Engineering, 2015, 117:825-831.

This edition includes the completion and generation of footnotes and of a table of about 400 references, the addition of 90 more and a list of Mr. Lethaby’s works.

 

Contents

  • Forward by Eric Serejski
  • Preface
  • Introductory
  • Chapters 
    1. The world fabric
    2. The microcosmos
    3. Four square
    4. At the centre of the earth
    5. The jewel-bearing tree
    6. The planetary spheres
    7. The labyrinth
    8. The golden gate of the sun
    9. Pavements like the sea
    10. Ceilings like the sky
    11. The windows of heaven and three hundred and sixty days
    12. The symbol of creation
  • Biography
  • Work Cited

Table of figures

  1. Ziggurat of Belus at Babylon (see p. 117)
  2. Buddhist Plan of the World Astrologers’ Houses of the Sky
  3. A Buddhist Tope
  4. [Painting formerly in the Church of Megale Panagia at Athens [SE]]
  5. Ezekiel’s City
  6. Chinese Plan
  7. The Four Rivers and Central Tree
  8. The Central Stone of Delphi
  9. The Central Stone of Delphi
  10. Plan of Dome of the Rock
  11. Indian Lamp Tree [Indian Museum at South Kensington]
  12. Greek Lamp Tree
  13. The Golden Candlestick from the arch of Titus
  14. [Sargon before the sacred tree [SE]]
  15. Seven-Walled City, from 1481 Dante
  16. The Throne on Seven Steps of the Heavens
  17. Floor Labyrinth at Ravenna
  18. Early Coins of Crete
  19. Isle of Crete, from the Hereford Map
  20. Door Lintel, Ebba, Carthage
  21. Syrian Tomb Door, Galilee [Schumcher]
  22. East Toran, Sanchi Tope
  23. Phoenician Toran, Coin of Paphos
  24. Chinese Tomb Door, Guangzhou [Dresser]
  25. Marble Pavement, Constantinople [W. Brindley]
  26. Roman Pavement, Cirencester [Lysons]
  27. Pavement Patterns, Baptisteries of Pisa and Florence
  28. Mosaic Dome [Galla Placidia], Ravenna
  29. Egyptian Goddess of the Sky [Nut]
  30. Egyptian Temple Ceiling
  31. Italian Canopy, from a Tile
  32. Italian Lamp from Mantegna
  33. Ostrich Egg from Mycenae