The Magic Square and Ladder in Melencolia l by Albrecht Durer

Albrecht Durer (1471-1528), in his 1514 engraving entitled Melencolia I, proves that indeed, ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’.   Filled with alchemical and mystical objects, a viewer could become lost in the forest of meanings.  Each item holds numerous layers of interpretation and I certainly won’t even begin to …

The Catenary Arch: Above and Below

In the late 17th century, the discovery for creating the strongest form of arch was realized.  Robert Hooke had stated he found “the true mathematical and mechanical form of all manner of arches for building.”  Initially encoded by means similar to that of an anagram (abcccddeeeeefggiiiiiiii-ilmmmmnnnnnooprrsssttttttuuuuuuuux), Hooke’s studies would later …