DoctorArcanus
geomancer said:One of the disciplines I have been exploring is alchemy. There is a plate (Emblem 21) from "Atlanta Fugiens" by M. Maeir that has been used in various publications. The standard explanation is that the "magician" is trying to square the circle. This explanation is accepted without question or any logical proof. By questioning this belief and looking at the original statement the real answer is there.
It is in actual fact a question and response scenario (Freemasonry initiation ceremony, role playing gamers (D&D)). The question in this case is:
1. Given a cube of a known surface area, draw me a sphere of equal surface area using geometric means (pencil, straight edge, compass).
2. Given a sphere of known surface area, draw me a cube of equal surface area using geometric means.
The answer is Emblem 21.
Geomancer,
this is fascinating.
Here is a small Emblem XXI I found on the internet:
http://www.culture.hu-berlin.de/HB/volltexte/texte/b_ikonologie/Mediale-Abb13.jpg
I knew the image, but the name was not enough to make me remember it.
The internet image is a figure from what seems to be an interesting page about "Die Hermetische Ikonologie der vier Elemente"....it seems to be in German
http://www.culture.hu-berlin.de/HB/volltexte/texte/ikonologie.html
Marco