User:Decumanus/notes

Apprentice Pillar
 * 
 * ornate carvings required detailed skill
 * eight dragons on base
 * mixture of Celtic, Pagan, Greek and Medieval Christian spiritual references present in this unique chapel + Norse influences as well.
 * legend is that apprentice came from Orkneys, pillar represents Yggsdrasil of Norse mythology
 * the World Ash that binds together heaven, earth and hell
 * crown of tree represents twelve constellations of the zodiac
 * trees spirals around, branches representing planets, earth is roots
 * at bottom, dragons of Neifelheim graw at tree to rob of fruitfulness
 * ancient pagan legend transformed into Christain Tree of Life
 * based on legend of murdered apprentice who worked on it.
 * murder seen as symbolic re-enactment of the murder of Hiram Abif
 * master mason at time building of King Solomon's Temple in Jerusalem
 * legend is that master mason was given model, and seeing it so beautiful,wanted to go to Rome to see original. In his absence, apprentice finished it.


 * "The master mason having received from his patron the model of a pillar of exquisite workmanship and design, hesitated to carry it out until he had been to Rome or some such foreign part. and seen the original. He went abroad, and in his absence, an apprentice, having dreamed the finished pillar, at once set to work and carried out the design as it now stands, a perfect marvel of workmanship. The master mason on his return was so stung with envy that he asked who had dared to do it in his absence. On being told it was his own apprentice, he was so inflamed with rage and passion, that he struck him with his mallet, killed him on the spot, and paid the penalty for his rash and cruel act."
 * Rosslyn Chapel is in Diocese of St. Andrews.
 * according to Rev. Thompson, previous minister, Bishop of St. Andrews was in Rome at time of chapel's completion and sought special dispensation for an act of violence that was commited on its premises during its construction. Details of the act of violence are not known.


 * "Two Miles Further on we saw Roslen Chapel, a very pretty design, but was never finished, the choir only and a little Vault. The roof is all stone, with good imagery work; there is a better man at exact description of the stories than he at Westminster Abbey: this story is told us, that the Master builder went abroad to see good patterns, but before his return his apprentice had built one pillar which exceeded all that ever he could do, or had seen, therefore he slew him; and he showed us the head of the apprentice on the wall with a gash in his forehead and his master's head opposite him." Thomas Kirk, "Account of a Tour in Scotland" 1677.


 * tradition is that before its completion, it required reconsecration

 Rosslyn Chape
 * [[said to be decorated with items of masonic significance
 * Sinclair family were the hereditary grandmasters of Scottish masonry
 * arches, lintels, pillars with highly detailed plant decorations
 * two decoration of aloe cactus and maize cob, unknown in Europe at the time
 * over one-hundred green men, some peeking out hidden from vegetation, with vegetation coming from outh
 * star studded ceiling
 * entangled pyramids
 * figure of Moses
 * engrailed crosses
 * towers of Heavenly Jerusalem
 * only certain Christain imagery added in Victorian times
 * baptistery
 * statue of Madonna
 * stained glass windows
 * squares and compasses
 * legend of Hiram Abif
 * high in corner is head with gash
 * opposite wall is murderer
 * Recalling the legend of Hiram Abif, "high up in the corner where the south and west walls meet, and level with the organ, is a head with a severe gash on the right temple and in the opposite side of the west wall is the head of the person who killed him."- Christopher Knight & Robert Lomas, The Hiram Key: Pharaohs, Freemasons and the Discovery of the Secret Scrolls of Jesus


 * mythological symbols from Celtic, Pagan, Norse, Jewish, Christian, Templar