Monument to the Ancient Gods of Light, New Grange, Meath County, Ireland. 4 th Millenium B.C.

Transcription

1 Monument to the Ancient Gods of Light, New Grange, Meath County, Ireland. 4 th Millenium B.C. 1

2 Monument to the Ancient Gods of Light, New Grange, Meath County, Ireland. 4 th Millenium B.C., Grave. 2

3 Entrance. Light Box above the entrance. 3

4 Passage Grave Plan inside the Tomb. 4

5 Passage Grave section. 5

6 Passage and stone in the far wall with triple spire.

7 Stone in the deepest part of the grave where a shaft of light falls on the winter solstice. 7

8 Parthenon columns Athens, Greece, 5 th century B.C.. 8

9 Columns against wall. 9

10 Doric column ( Drawing by M.Korres). Proportion 1:

11 Appearance of columns in the light. 11

12 Doric fluting in horizontal section. Observe the pointing edges. The proportion of the width of the fluting versus its depth is 1/6. Drawing by D. Konstandinides. 12

13 Suggested curvature by D. Konstadinides and a parabolic curve in red. 13

14 Light and shadow in relation to the fluting. 14

15 Fig. 2. Iveron Monastery, Mount Athos, Pendentives lifting the dome.

16 Fig. 1 Iveron Monastery, Mount Athos, Pantocrator 16

17 S. Sophia, Istanbul. 6 th century A.D..

18 Fig. 4. G. L. Huxley s monograph on Anthemius 18

19 Design of an elliptical reflector of double curvature by Anthemius of Tralles. ( About Paradoxical Machines in G. Huxley, Anthemius of Tralles: A Study in Later Greek Geometry, 1959). Plan and section on the same drawing. 19

20 Fig.6. Anthemius ellipsoidal reflector surface in red. 20

21 Fig. 7. Area of Istanbul with locations of important monuments 21

22 Spherical reflector resolved in Fragmentum Mathematicum Bobiense by Anthemius.

23 Experimentation with various angles with different angles of incidence of light onto the 2 nd reflector of Anthemius s

24 Initial dome section (after Connant) with the ellipsoidal reflectors by Anthemius on the window sills. The light rays are reflected within the dome. The dome acts as a second reflector and generates multiple reflections trapping the light.

25 Fig. 9. The shape of the windows due to the ellipsoidal reflector 25

26 ...φέγγους διαρκώς αγωγούς είναι......to be channels for the admission of light in sufficient measure to be conductors of an incessant gleam... Fig. 8. Interpretation of Procopius description. 26

27 Fig. 15. Exact coincidence of transverse section with Anthemius spherical reflector. 27

28 Ellipsoidal reflectors of double curvature on the dome window sills.

29 Computer Model of Hagia Sophia Dome. Initial Dome with solar light coming from the SouthEast at about 10 a.m. With the ellipsoidal reflectors in place.

30 The diagram of the 2 nd reflector by Anthemius placed over the section of the H. Sophia dome (Two domes are apparent the initial flatter one and the present taller one).

31 Light behavior in the initial flat dome with the ellipsoidal reflector in place and without it.

32 Eugenios Antoniades. Dome and reflected light in off center position. Why?

33 Fig. 10. Engraving of Hagia Sophia with its fourth dome, looking East. Fossati architects. 33

34 Fig. 11. Engraving of Hagia Sophia looking West, Fossati architects 34

35 The orientation of the byzantine church and the geometry of the apse. Light and space are interdependent.

36 Sunlight incidence in the apse. In a large number of Byzantine churches the incidence of sunlight onto the altar during mass, has been observed. A shaft of light falls onto the bread and wine as they are offered to God. The shaft of light is the (antidoron) return gift of God which is the descent of the Holy Spirit which transformed the human gifts into the Flesh and Blood of Christ. In order for the shaft of light to become visible the church had to be turned toward the appropriate direction and windows had to be opened of the appropriate number and size. Also, it was important for the window jambs to have a proper tilt. So the church main axis was determined based on this function.

37 Τα ζητήματα που έπρεπε να αντιμετωπιστούν The incidence of a light shaft onto the Altar occurs on a certain hour of the day on a certain celebration date. It falls precisely onto the side of the altar where the priest stands performing the liturgy. The time in which this phenomenon takes place is the third Byzantine hour, that is, midmorning. The position of the sun in the sky differs according to the season in regard to the azimuth angle and height. The celebration date is the original dedication date. The large cathedrals because of their frequent use are often orientated toward the third hour of the Equinox so that they can capture the light in various days of great feasts during the year.

38 Παρατηρήσεις The geometry of the apse differs greatly from one church to another. Various polygons or semicircles or partial arcs, or even strange shapes are formed. The variety of polygons is often attributed to stylistic preference. The orientation of the main axis differs greatly from one church to another. The number of windows also differs from one to two to three to six to a continuous one of very large size. The windows vary in size and distance among them.

39 Two examples These principles are derived from the study of 6 th century churches. Hagia Sophia, Instanbul. Hagia Sophia is orientated toward the Third Hour of the Equinox. It receives a shaft of light on Christmas day from the southernmost apse window on the third hour of Christmas day. The church is dedicated to the Nativity of Christ. The angular difference of the light shaft between these two dates for the third hour is 24.6 degrees. The closest regular polygon that posseses such an angle is the heptagon. This method has been tested in other churches of the same period but also on much later ones such as the church of the 18 th century of Xeropotamou on Mount Athos. It has been proven that is responsible for the dodecagon of the apse plan of this church as well.

40 The sudden vision. The subtle curving of surfaces in the byzantine church.

41 The Crist as Gate. Observation of the sudden vision of light from a certain distance. From Whittemore and others.

42 The sudden opening up into and revelation of space and light.

43 St. Sophia of Thessaloniki, Plan, Marinos Kalligas.

44 St. Sophia of Thessaloniki, Section, Marinos Kalligas.

45 Historical Precedents and the knowledge of architects.

46 Sunrise in the Parthenon. Nativity of Goddess Athena, August 23rd, William Dinsmoor, Proceedings of the American Philosophical Society, 1939.

47 Athenian Acropolis

48 Mirror placement that creates the illusion that God appears miraculously. W. Schmidt, Heronis Alexandrini Opera, 1899.

49 Perspective view W. Schmidt, Heronis Alexandrini Opera, 1899.