Main entry:

Hiscock, Nigel, 1940-

Title & Author:

The wise master builder : Platonic geometry in plans of medieval abbeys and cathedrals / Nigel Hiscock.

Publication:

Aldershot ; Brookfield, USA : Ashgate, ©2000.

Description:

xviii, 340 pages, approximately [95] pages of plates : illustrations (some color) ; 26 cm

Notes:
Includes bibliographical references (pages 307-320) and index.
pt. 1. Introduction -- pt. 2. The historical context. 1. The tenth century. The Ottonian revival. The revival in monasticism. The revival in learning. 2. Classical and early Christian sources. Pythagoras and Plato. The Greek Fathers. The Latin encyclopedists. Augustine. Proclus and Dionysius. Boethius and Cassiodorus. 3. Metaphysical belief and architectural metaphor. Veiling the truth. Philosophy and the liberal arts. Number and proportion. Geometry, architecture and symbolism. The Octagonal Shrine. Conclusion. 4. 'The white mantle of churches'. Summary. 'Measure, number and weight'. Geometric expressionism. Architecture and the monastic revival. 5. Medieval architectural practice -- pt. 3. The geometric investigation.
Dust jacket.

Summary:

The aim of this book is to re-open the debate about the importance of geometry and symbolism in medieval architectural design. It argues the case for attributing an intellectual meaning to the planning of major abbeys and cathedrals.

Resources:
Table of contents

ISBN:

184014632X (hardback ; acid-free paper)
9781840146325 (hardback ; acid-free paper)

Subject:

Plato Influence.
Plato.
Platon, (0427?-0348? av. J.-C.) Influence.
People's Liberation Army of Namibia
Evangelisch-Lutherische Kirchengemeinde Sankt Michaelis Hildesheim
Abbeys Designs and plans.
Cathedrals Designs and plans.
Architecture, Medieval.
Geometry in architecture.
Stonemasons History To 1500.
Architecture and philosophy.
Cathedrals Designs and plans History.
Cathedrals Designs and plans Mathematics.
Abbeys Designs and plans History.
Abbeys Designs and plans Mathematics.
Maçons Histoire 500-1500 (Moyen Âge)
Architecture et philosophie.
Architecture religieuse médiévale Histoire.
Cathédrales Dessins et plans Histoire.
Cathédrales Dessins et plans Mathématiques.
Géométrie en architecture.
Abbayes Dessins et plans Histoire.
Abbayes Dessins et plans Mathématiques.
Abbayes Dessins et plans.
Cathédrales Dessins et plans.
Architecture médiévale.
Influence (Literary, artistic, etc.)
Geometrie
Kirchenbau
Klosteranlage
Kathedralen.
Kloostergebouwen.
Plattegronden.
Plan.
Architecture Composition, proportion, etc.
Christian art and symbolism Medieval, 500-1500

Form/genre:

Architectural drawings.

Holdings:

Location: Library main 212535
Call No.: NA4850 .H5 2000
Status: Available