May 05, 2008

The Great Pavement of Westminster Abbey, one of the Abbey's two Cosmati pavements, is to be restored to public gaze after being under carpet (except for one day a year) since the nineteenth century.

The pavement (pdf) is full of complex coded symbols, including a message about the end of the world after 19,683 years, and enigmatic stuff like SI LECTOR POSITA PRUDENTER CUNCTA REVOLVAT HIC FINEM PRIMI MOBILIS INVENIET (If the reader go carefully round all this he will come to the end of the Primum Mobile) and SPERICUM ARCHETIPUM GLOBUS HIC MONSTRAT MACROCOSMUM (This spherical ball shows the Macrocosmic archetype). The equally enigmatic and symbol-ridden Holbein portrait 'The Ambassadors'is said to feature the pavement. Some have interpreted the pavement as having a choreographic function; others see it as a Mandala.

posted by Plegmund 16 years ago
  • My first thought was that it might be a walking maze, but I guess they wouldn't have used such precious stones for something thast would get more wear and tear than a reguler floor. I wonder if I start saving now, will I have enough to get to London in time for the unveiling? One of my fondest memories of my London trip was getting to eat my cheese and pickle sandwich on a 1,000-year-old monk's tomb. I hope people enjoy my company that much after I'm dead. And Pleg, your second link is the inspiration for a special one-hour episode of Hans Holbein's Gay Tea Time Gala.
  • This reminds of the bit in the Celestine Prophecy...no, wait, come back! Don't pull that face!
  • Fantastic. Thanks for posting, Pleggy. Just no one let Dan Brown anywhere near it...
  • I just wanted to say quincunx.
  • Dr. Quincunx, Medieval Woman
  • It sounds dirty when you say it like that.
  • This is great news. And what had Holbein been smoking when he painted The Ambassadors?
  • Kinda looks like a MAD fold-in, dunnit?
  • Damn, I wish I could watch that tea-time gala...
  • This. Is. Awesome. Thank you, Pleggers.
  • Beautiful. I wish there were a really clear close-up *strolls into sunset humming* England swings like a pendulum do Bobbies on bicycles, two by two Westminster Abbey, the tower of Big Ben, The rosy red cheeks of the little children.