The term 'geometry' means 'measure of
the earth', a Greek word inherited from ancient Egypt. The yearly flooding of
the Nile caused chaos in the fields and each year, after the waters had
receded, 'geometry', the redefining and re-establishment of boundaries, was
carried out. It was the re-establishment of the principle of order and law on
the planet.
Thoth |
This 'measurement of the earth' evolved
into the basis for a science of natural law, embodying the archetypal forms
of square, circle and triangle. This led to the belief that
'God created the universe according to a geometric pattern': Plato: 'God
geometrizes continually'; Gauss: 'God arithmetizes.' And, in a way, this
is true.
Nature is geometric, often symmetric from
the 'simplest' snowflake to the most beautiful flower. In ancient Egypt, it was
the god Thoth (Djehuti) to whom were attributed many aspects
including science, religion, philosophy, magic and the mediating power between
good and evil; responsible for the calculations that made the heavens, stars
and earth.
The Geometry of a Snowflake |
Note that, in English, the spelling of the name 'Thoth' is itself near-symmetric. The Greeks adopted this deity and added to his attributes, the science of mathematics and geometry among others.
Thoth, the 'ibis (sometimes
baboon)-headed' deity (see post: What Did They See?) became especially known for
magic, writing, judgement of the dead and the development of science. The 'golden
ratio' is a ratio studied since ancient Greece and first remarked upon because
of its frequency in nature.
A 'golden ratio' is present, in arts and
mathematics, when the ratio of the sum of the quantities to the larger quantity
is equal to the ratio of the larger quantity to the smaller one; a ratio of
approximately 3:2. Within this, there is a certain appealing beauty that is
caught by the eye.
Kolam-South India |
The mathematics of the 'golden ratio'
are intimately related to the Fibonacci (named after Leonardo of
Pisa-a.k.a. Fibonacci) sequence, a number theorem.
The Fibonacci sequence appears
to be a 'rhythm' that is inherent in nature. It is seen in ancient Indian
mathematics as well as in Sanskrit poetry. In many cultures, geometric patterns
are still considered sacred, powdered onto the doorstep each morning (kolam).
Christ with Compass |
By definition, in the Fibonacci sequence, each number is the sum of the previous two. It is a sequence that appears throughout nature, such as in the the arrangement of leaves on a stem, the branching of a tree; and is applicable to computer algorithms, graphs, data structure.
The Golden Ratio |
'Sacred Geometry', the 'Golden ratio', the 'Fibonacci Sequence'...It's beautiful, it's natural, it's everywhere. It's all one more way to have 'Fun with Numbers' (see posts: Fun With Numbers and Geomatria-Fun With Numbers Again).
The Geometry of a Low Pressure Weather System |
To create symmetry, to create a perfect geometry that reflects the natural world, mankind created tools that allowed him to build pyramids, castles, spaceships.
These tools were the magical implements
of the builder, the architect, the engineer: the compass, the planer and the
set-square.