Ludovic McLellan Mann's place in the history of prehistoric metrology

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (Supplement) ◽  
pp. 52-64
Author(s):  
Liz Henty

Megalithic metrology, the notion that Neolithic monument builders employed a standard unit of measurement when setting out stone circles, has a long history. William Stukeley was the first to suggest that this standard unit was the druid cubit. He may have drawn on Isaac Newton's 1728 description of the temple of Abydos, which noted that the layout utilised cubits in the design, though the druid cubit was Stukeley's invention. This idea of a standard universal measure seemingly lay dormant for over a century until Edward Duke, Charles Piazzi Smyth and Sir William Flinders Petrie proposed other metrological systems. The subject was taken up again in 1930 when Ludovic McLellan Mann wrote a pamphlet entitled Craftsmen's Measures in Prehistoric Times in which he detailed new measures; the ‘alpha unit’ (0.619 inches) and the ‘beta unit’ (0.55 inches). A special committee formed from members of the Glasgow Archaeological Society and the Glasgow University Geological Society resoundingly disagreed, but Mann found approval from outside the archaeological community when his ideas were taken up by Major F C Tyler, who used them to elaborate on his own version of the lengths of Alfred Watkins’ old straight tracks. More famously, Alexander Thom made megalithic metrology, (the megalithic rod, yard, foot, and inch) an essential part of his thesis, ideas which received an esoteric twist in the New Age writings of John Michell. Was this an original discovery or was Thom influenced by Mann and others before him?

Archaeologia ◽  
1890 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 183-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
F.M. Nichols

It may be of interest to the Society if I submit to its notice some observations made last year, which render it necessary to re-write the history of one of the best known monuments of Rome.The monument, which for fifty-six years has been called the Column of Phocas, was formerly, when nothing but the pillar itself was seen above ground, the subject of much curiosity and speculation among the visitors of the Forum. The “nameless column with the buried base” was thought by some to be the sole relic of a great temple or other public building. By others it had been conjectured to be part of the famous bridge by which Caligula united his palace on the Palatine with the temple of Capitoline Jupiter. In the early years of the century, among other works of the same kind, it was resolved to clear away the soil and débris from the substructure of this column; and on the 13th of March, 1813, the inscription of its pedestal, which had remained for centuries a few feet below the level of the ground, was uncovered, and revealed the fact that it had supported a statue dedicated by the exarch Smaragdus to the honour of a Caesar, whose name had been erased, but who, by other indications, could be no other than Phocas, an emperor of evil reputation, but to whom Rome and the world owe some gratitude for having been instrumental in dedicating the Pantheon to Christian worship, and so preserving from ruin one of the noblest and most original architectural works of antiquity.


1981 ◽  
Vol 76 ◽  
pp. 323-328
Author(s):  
Carlos Arturo Picón

A fruitful combination of excavation, fieldwork, and research has in recent years increased our knowledge of the Temple of Apollo Epikourios at Bassai. In particular, the sculptured frieze which encircled the interior of the cella has been the subject of numerous studies, the most recent being the monograph by C. Hofkes-Brukker and A. Mallwitz published in 1975. The investigations made at Bassai by N. Yalouris and F. A. Cooper have produced important new evidence. As a result of the excavations conducted by Yalouris since 1959, the early history of the sanctuary and of the structures preceding the classical (‘Iktinian’) temple are reasonably clear. Furthermore, Cooper has shown that the ‘Iktinian’ building, the fourth in a series of temples to Apollo on the site, was not designed to receive pedimental sculpture, and that some, if not all, of this temple's akroteria were floral. The traditional attributions of pedimental and akroterial statues must be discarded, along with the theory that the ‘Iktinian’ building was started as early as the middle of the fifth century B.C.Yet, despite this progress, and the fact that the temple is one of the best-preserved monuments from antiquity, many issues remain controversial. Scholars postulate several building phases for the Classical temple. The chronology of the sculptures is still debated, as is the order of the twenty-three frieze-slabs within the cella.


1881 ◽  
Vol 8 (5) ◽  
pp. 197-198
Author(s):  
T. Mellard Reade

As bearing upon the subject of Mr. J. Arthur Phillips's interesting and valuable paper in the last number of the Quarterly Journal of the Geological Society, entitled, “On the Constitution and History of Grits and Sandstones,” a description of a cliff section of blown sand now to be seen on the coast at Crosby may not be without value. The section in question, which attracted the attention of a local geologist, Mr. William Semmons, and myself, is at a point on the coast where the sea is encroaching upon the sand-dunes, and washing them away at the base leaves the face almost vertical. The resemblance of the sand to rock is most striking, presenting all those peculiarities of cross-bedding and lines of erosion we are familiar with in some of the Triassic sandstones of the neighbourhood. During the last twelve years, in walks along the shore, I have often observed the laminations of the blown sand disclosed by denudation, but never so strikingly as in the present case. The beds not only display delicate laminations, but stand out in ribs and cornices, simulating Gothic mouldings in pi'ofile. On trying how so loose a material as blown sand could retain these projecting forms, I was surprised to find the projections comparatively hard and solid. On breaking a piece off, the reason became apparent; for instead of the usually dry incoherent grains of sand, below the surface-skin the sand was quite damp. A very little addition of siliceous or calcareous cement would turn the mass into rock.


2012 ◽  
Vol 48 ◽  
pp. 362-373
Author(s):  
Martin Wellings

Writing pseudonymously in the New Age in February 1909, Arnold Bennett, acerbic chronicler of Edwardian chapel culture, deplored the lack of proper bookshops in English provincial towns. A substantial manufacturing community, he claimed, might be served only by a stationers shop, offering ‘Tennyson in gilt. Volumes of the Temple Classics or Everyman. Hymn books, Bibles. The latest cheap Shakespeare. Of new books no example, except the brothers Hocking.’ Bennett’s lament was an unintended compliment to the ubiquity of the novels of Silas and Joseph Hocking, brothers whose literary careers spanned more than half a century, generating almost two hundred novels and innumerable serials and short stories. Silas Hocking (1850–1935), whose first book was published in 1878 and last in 1934, has been described as the most popular novelist of the late nineteenth century. By 1900 his sales already exceeded one million volumes. The career of Joseph Hocking (1860–1937) was slightly shorter, stretching from 1887 to 1936, but his output was equally impressive. The Hockings’ works have attracted interest principally among scholars of Cornish life and culture. It will be argued here, however, that they have significance for the history of late Victorian and Edwardian Nonconformity, both reflecting and reinforcing the attitudes, beliefs and prejudices of their large and appreciative readership.


MaPan ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 236-247
Author(s):  
Rizki Sariningtias ◽  
◽  
Reza Indriani ◽  
Anisa Solihati ◽  
Alya Kamila ◽  
...  

The analysis of historical buildings Ngawen Temple has a purpose of knowing the history of Ngawen Temple and knowing the approach to the Ngawen Temple's geometry. This research type is descriptive research with a qualitative approach. The subject of this research is the historical building of Ngawen Temple. The data collection techniques used in this research are interviews and documentation (observation) directly. The interview was done with the temple officers around the building, and the documentation was taken directly. The data analysis technique is done by analyzing the buildings related to the geometry, such as the building's shape on the Ngawen Temple. The results of this study were obtained; namely, Ngawen Temple set in Buddhism. The Ngawen Temple complex consists of 5 (five) temples that line the parallel from north to south. Temple building facing the east. From the south of Ngawen Temple I, II, III, IV, and V, each temple plans the square. One of Ngawen Temple's uniqueness is the existence of 4 lion statues in every corner of temple II and Candi IV. Another uniqueness is the temple's architecture, found in a lion's statue that supports the four sides of the temple building reconstructed from the five buildings. The lion statue's carved style resembles the lion symbol of Singapore's country and serves the rainwater that comes out through the statue's mouth. The Ngawen Temple's shape resembles the cuboid's geometry, the rectangular pyramidal frustum, and the rectangular pyramid


2017 ◽  
pp. 221-249
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Wrześniak

The hereby text is a short study on the relationship between architecture and jewellery. In the first part, it presents the history of occurrence of architectural forms in jewellery from antiquity to present day in the European culture. The second part delivers the examples of contemporary artefacts, particularly rings with microarchitecture. The analysis of the collected examples proves that architecture – its form, construction and detail − is a motive of decoration willingly used in jewellery design, often of a symbolic meaning related to the household or the temple (wedding rings, ritual rings). Nowadays, especially in the 21st century, microarchitecture in jewellery often emerges with reference to the place of origin, i.e. the famous building being, most frequently, the commemoration of a journey, able to bring back the memory of a visited city. The architectural jewellery, whose meanings and functions are the subject of the hereby study, has undergone many transformations throughout history. Even though it has transitioned from simple to complicated and decorative forms, from precious and rare to cheap and popular objects of mass production presenting the miniature replicas of buildings, the jewellery nearly always symbolises the city. Much less often the jewellery design occurs with reference to the metaphorical meanings of buildings as a representation of permanency (the tower in Alessandro Dari’s jewellery) or marital union (the house and the temple in Jewish rings).


1882 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 424-429
Author(s):  
Walter Flight

At the end of the year 1880, Dr. O. Hahn, of Reutlingen, a lawyer by calling, published a big work entitled Die Metcoriten (Chondrite) und ihre Organismen mit 32 Tafeln photographischer Abbildungen (1880, Tubingen: H. Laupp), by which he claimed to have shown the presence in meteoric rocks of sponges, corals, and crinoids. A statement of his views was read before a meeting of the Geological Society the same summer. Early this year Dr. D. F. Weinland published a paper in support of these views, Ueber die in Meteoriten entdeekten Thierreste. Illustrated with two woodcuts (1882, Esslingen: G. Fröhner). The question was thoroughly gone into in a scientific way by Prof. Carl Vogt, of Geneva, and the conclusions at which he arrived are contained in a paper entitled Les prétendus Organismes des Météorites, published 1882, Genéve: H. Georg. It is shown that Dr. Hahn had no foundation for his conclusions; that all the pretended organic structures are purely inorganic; and that in no single case do they present the microscopic structure of the organisms for which they have been mistaken — such as crinoids, corals, and sponges. See also Dr. Laurence Smith on the subject in the Amer. Jour. Sc. 1882, February, 156.


2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joseph J. De Bruyn

Initially there was not supposed to be a prophetic office in Israel. ‘Prophetism’ was considered to be part of work that the priests performed. Thus, the priests were seen to be acting as prophets. Generally speaking, the prophets of the Old Testament are described as people who preached the Word of God. In the same way, priests are generally described as people who fulfilled functions at the temple and whose task it was to sacrifice on behalf of the Israelites. This article, however, argues that Yahweh intended much more through the establishment and ministry of the priests than merely administer sacrifices. It is the contention that Yahweh ordained the office of priests to preach the Word of God or to give advice in accordance with the will of Yahweh as it is documented in the Torah. The article’s contribution to the subject of prophetism in Israel will begin by studying the chronological history of Israel as it is described in the Hebrew Bible. The terms prophet, prophecy and prophetism will also be examined as they are used in the Hebrew Bible. By doing so, the article will show that it was only when the priests failed in their prophetic calling or when Yahweh wanted to change the cult or political establishment that He called people from outside of the established cult to fulfil the role of prophet. Yahweh used the prophetic office in times of need. One may call it an emergency measure – in times when the priests failed in their calling.Die bedoeling was aanvanklik nie dat daar ’n profetiese amp in Israel moes wees nie. ‘Profetisme’ was veronderstel om deel van die priesterlike amp te wees. Die priesters het dus as profete opgetree. Oor die algemeen word die Ou-Testamentiese profete as persone beskryf wat die Woord van God verkondig het. Op ’n soortgelyke algemene wyse word priesters as persone beskryf wat hulle werk by die tempel verrig het en wie se taak dit was om namens die Israeliete te offer. Hierdie artikel argumenteer egter dat Jahwe oorspronklik met die instelling van die priesteramp meer as net offerdiens in gedagte gehad het. Jahwe het oorspronklik die priesteramp ingestel om die Woord van God te preek en om advies te gee in oorstemming met die wil van Jahwe soos dit in die Tora vervat is. In hierdie artikel word die chronologiese geskiedenis van Israel soos dit in die Hebreeuse Bybel beskryf word, bestudeer. Die terme profeet, profesie en profetisme soos in die Hebreeuse Bybel gebruik, sal ook beskryf word. In die bestudering van hiervan sal aangedui word dat Jahwe persone van buite die kultus slegs as profete aangestel het wanneer die priesters in hulle profetiese taak gefaal het of wanneer Hy verandering in die bestaande kultus of politieke stelsel te weeg wou bring. Jahwe het dus die profete-amp as noodmaatreël gebruik wanneer die priesters in hulle profetiese roeping gefaal het.


2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-74
Author(s):  
Irina Gerasimova ◽  
Nina Zakharina ◽  
Nadezhda Shchepkina

The subject of article is the history of the musical and poetic composition of the Christmas sticheron “Σήμερον ὁ Χριστός” by Johann Damascene with the Gospel quotation “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, and good will toward men” (Lk. 2:14), as well as the circle of associated stichera in Byzantine, Old Russian and Kiev-Lithuanian traditions. The musical text of the hymns is represented in Greek manuscripts by Chartres, Coislin and middle-Byzantine neumes; Old Russian chant books were analyzed using znamenny neumes and singer notation; and Kiev manuscripts — using Kievan five-line notation records. The melody of the Christmas sticheron emphasizes the importance of the Gospel quotation with long melismatic musical fragments of the quotation itself and the previous sentence. This sticheron became a model for several hymns to Epiphany, Purification of the Most Holy Mother of God, Annunciation and Entry into the Temple of the Most Holy Mother of God, the majority of which were excluded from liturgical use. There are various ways of creating a new sticheron based on the model: prosomoion may be a calque or an independent composition with certain elements of model tune. The latter case of the sticheron to the Entry into the Temple “Σήμερον τῷ ναῷ προσάγεται” has its own musical text history in three traditions, independent from that of the model. Chants of Old Russian manuscripts of 11th—14th centuries are similar to those of a Byzantine origin, but in the 15th—17th centuries the music of these two traditions has developed in different ways. The Kievan chant tradition, similar to both Old Russian and Byzantine ones, is a point of intersection of chant cultures.


1974 ◽  
Vol 42 ◽  
pp. 3-26 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. P. Wiseman

Ever since Professor Gatti's epoch-making paper in 1960, the Circus Flaminius and its buildings have been the subject of intensive argument. The problems involved are many and complex; this paper is an attempt to make sense of them by concentrating in the first instance on the implications of the ancient evidence, both as to the nature of the Circus itself (Section I) and on the history of its development and the buildings within it (II). There follows a discussion of Gatti's theory about the position of the Circus and of Professor Marchetti Longhi's objections to it (III), and a critical consideration of some of the ideas advanced on the basis of Gatti's position (IV), in particular Dr. Coarelli's identification of the temple of Bellona (V). A brief conclusion (VI) sums up what I believe the combined evidence implies.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document