Contents

• Pt. 1. Introduction
• Pt. 2. The historical context. 1. The tenth century. The Ottonian revival. The revival in monasticism. The revival in learning. 2. Classical and early Christian sources. Pythagoras and Plato. The Greek Fathers. The Latin encyclopedists. Augustine. Proclus and Dionysius. Boethius and Cassiodorus. 3. Metaphysical belief and architectural metaphor. Veiling the truth. Philosophy and the liberal arts. Number and proportion. Geometry, architecture and symbolism. The Octagonal Shrine. Conclusion. 4. ‘The white mantle of churches’. Summary. ‘Measure, number and weight’. Geometric expressionism. Architecture and the monastic revival. 5. Medieval architectural practice
• Pt. 3. The geometric investigation. 6. Application of geometry to plans. Selection of sample. Early German. St. Peter, Rome. Early French. Early Norman. Anglo-Norman. Pilgrim Churches. French Gothic. 7. Comparative analysis. 8. Counter examples
• Pt. 4. Conclusions. 9. Findings, conclusions and implementation. Summary of findings. Main conclusions. Translation to site. Case Study: St. Michael, Hildesheim. 10. Inferences and implications. The question of proof. Possible sources. Continuing history of geometric design - - App. 1. The geometric investigation: measurement and accuracy
• App. 2. The geometric investigation: criteria for evaluation
• App. 3. Dimensions for St. Michael, Hildesheim
• App. 4. Dimensions for St. Peter’s Old Basilica, Rome