We now know that the sun ranges to 23.5 degrees from the equator, the moon ranges to 28.5, and Mercury ranges to 31 degrees. We also know that a hexagon touches a circle or sphere at 30 degrees, which is pretty close to Mercury's range. Heliopolis and the Great Pyramid were located close to 30 degrees north latitude. Behdet was located at 31 degrees. Jerusalem is at 31+ degrees. While the diagonals of an equilateral triangle are 30 degrees, the diagonals of a 52 degree triangle are 23+ degrees. The diagonal of the rectangle formed by the Station Stones at the Stonehenge form 23 degree angles. The Washington D.C. map features a large 52 degree triangle with 23 degree diagonals.

Now consider the dimensions of the Ark of the Covenant which are given as 2.5x1.5x1.5 cubits. We can convert this to 5x3x3. As 3/5 = .6, and the tangent of 31 degrees is .6, we see that the diagonals of the ark produce 31 degree angles. The dimensions of Noah's Ark are given as 300x50x30, so that the end of that forms the same rectangle.

Remember that the Ark of the Covenant, Noah's Ark, the Tabernacle and the Temple were all rectangular. Remember also that it doesn't matter how big or small you make these things, the ratio of the parts will always be the same.

Noah's Ark

It has already been shown that 300x50x30 converts to 360x60x36, where 360x60 is a rectangle sixty degrees wide around the globe. The magic square of the sun consists of the first thirty six numbers (6x6). The sun is associated with the number six. Noah's Ark is described in Genesis Chapter 6 where Noah is 600 years old.

In Daniel Chapter 3, the king has an 'image' built that is described as being 6x60. If we multipy by 5 we get the 300x30 of Noah's Ark.

In Hamlet's Mill, the authors suggest that the entity who told Gilgamesh to build his ark was Saturn. His ark was a 60x60x60 cube. Saturn is associated with the number three. The magic square of Saturn consists of the first nine numbers (3x3) which total to forty five, where any row, column or diagonal adds to 15. In Genesis 7 we read that clean beasts were brought in by sevens, that the waters prevailed to 15 cubits, 150 days.

Take the ark dimensions 300x50x30; 3x3 = 9, 3x5 = 15, 3x3x5 = 45, all Saturn numbers.

The altar in front of the Tabernacle is described as being 5x5 (a Mars square) and 3 cubits tall. He we see the same rectangle with the 31 degree Mercury angle and the 15 Saturn constant. Mercury is the closest to the sun, and it is the most erratic with the widest range, so it is viewed as the guide of the souls and patron of boundaries and limits, geometry, survey etc. Saturn was the furthest of the classical planets, and Saturns period agreed fairly closely with the 28 years repeating solar calendar, and was associated with the general notion of time keeping.

Looking at the dimensions given for the Temple we see 60x20x30. The Holy of Holies is 20x20x20. This conceptually leaves a 40x20 section. From an overhead view we are presented with three 20x20 squares end to end. Diagonals of these give us 1:1, 1:2 and 1:3 ratios for 45, 30 and 18.5 degrees. The 1:4 ratio used by mesoamerican ballcourts produced 14 degree diagonals.

The diagonal of a 60x20 rectangle produces an 18.5 degree angle with a tangent of .333. The sine of 19.47 is also .3333. Looking at the coffer in the King's Chamber in the Great Pyrmaid from overhead we find the inside dimensions to be 78.06x26.81 . That is a 19 degree diagonal. The section of Pennsylvania Avenue betwen the White House and the Capitol is at 19.5 degrees, while the diagonals formed by the pentagram are 23 degrees.

Looking at the outside dimensions of the coffer we find 89.62x38.5 . That is a 23 degree diagonal. The Parthenon in Athens is 100x225 Greek feet. That is a 4:9 (400:900) ratio, and 4/9= .444. The diagonal of that rectangle produces a 24 degree angle.

St. Mary's Chapel at Glastonbury

If you search the King James Version of the Bible (KJV) you will see that the word 'triangle' does not appear there. If you look for the word 'circle', you find it only once. In Isiah 40:22 we see the Lord described as "he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth... that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in".

According to Albert Pike "Hermes calls the Zodiac, the Great Tent, Tabernaculum". In Exodus 25 we read "Let them make me a sanctuary; that I might dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, after the pattern of the tabernacle... make the tabernacle with ten curtains". The curtains are described as being 28x4 cubits. The solar calendar repeats every 28 years, and 28/4 = 7. Then there is the candlestick with seven candles.

360/9 = 40, as in forty years in the desert, forty days in the desert of forty days of rain. 360/10 = 36. Egyptians are said to have honored a right triangle with 36 and 54 degree angles. (tan 36 = .726). They supposdly also honored the 3-4-5 right triangle where the perimeter equaled 12, and the area equaled 6. (tan 37 = .754). Five of the curtains sown together would be 28x20; 20/28 = .714. (tan 35.5 = .713). (Not too bad for using whole number ratios.)

The numbers 5 and 25 are associated with altars and sanctuaries. In Exodus 25 we read, "Let them make me a sanctuary", and in Ezekiel 45 we read "[2] Of this there shall be for the sanctuary five hundred in length, with five hundred in breadth, square round about; and fifty cubits round about for the suburbs thereof. [3] And of this measure shalt thou measure the length of five and twenty thousand, and the breadth of ten thousand: and in it shall be the sanctuary and the most holy place".

Ezek.42 [20] "He measured it by the four sides: it had a wall round about, five hundred reeds long, and five hundred broad, to make a separation between the sanctuary and the profane place." Ezek.48 [8] "And by the border of Judah, from the east side unto the west side, shall be the offering which ye shall offer of five and twenty thousand reeds in breadth, and in length as one of the other parts, from the east side unto the west side: and the sanctuary shall be in the midst of it."

In Numbers 2 we read of the Hebrew camp in the desert where the tabernacle shall set in the midst of the camp surrounded by the 12 tribes. In Ezekiel and the Revelation we see the same distribution of the tribes, three to the north, three to the east, three south, and three west. There the tribes are associated with gates of a legendary city. With Judah, the lion, on the east side toward the rising sun, it is easy to see that the 12 signs of the zodiac are being depicted.

In Revelation 21 we read that the city measure 12,000 furlongs in length, breadth and height. The wall measured 144 cubits. In Ezekiel 48 the city measures 4,500 on each side, or 18,000 round about. Saturn's numbers are 3, 9 and 45. 2+1 = 3. 1+4+4 = 9. 4+5 = 9. 1+8 = 9.

The caption reads horoscope prepared by Johannes Kepler. You can probably tell that the inner square lies within the 30 degree latitude lines generated by the vesica. That square lies just inside Mercury's range, meaning that all the planets belong inside the inner square and all the zodiac signs belong outside the outer square.

Earlier we saw that the paths of heavenly bodies create the figures on which ancient stone circles were based, and that the shape of those figures change as our latitude changes. In terms of desinging a Universal Lodge or Temple, we are confronted with a need to represent these astronomical lines in as simple manner as possible. Hopefully using whole number ratios, and recalling that a lodge is designed for initiations, while a temple is designed for worship.

Mesoamericans created a ball court that was 1:4 with a 14 degree diagonal that was based on the movement of Mercury around the sun. The center line was the ecliptic, the sun's path. The game was played within 7 degrees on either side of the sun conceptually.

Other than that we are interested in 23.5, 28.5 and 31 degrees, those being the range of the sun, moon and Mercury. Three whole number rectangles come to mind. The tangent of 26.5 is .5, or 1:2. The sine of 30 is .5, or 1:2 again. The 3x5 rectangle gives tangent of .6, for 31 degrees. Masons who recommend that the lodge floor should be a double square do so because the diagonal is 26.5, very near 27, or three cubed. Nine cubed is 729, one short of the number of days and nights in the year. Twenty seven is an average of 23.5 and 31.

Unfortunately, the moon and Mercury range outside this area. The 3x5 ark appears to be the best candidate. Unless you only intend to mark the sun's path. As we saw, the outside dimensions of the coffer generate 23 degree diagonals. That is, it conceptually fits inside the Ark of the Covenant. We are reminded of nested Egyptian coffins. The stone tablets of the Law go in the ark, the ark goes in the Holy of Holies, which is in the Temple, in the sanctuary.

Continue to a look at the Didymaion: The Temple of Apollo at Didyma.

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