Post by TheMarkFrost on Mar 8, 2014 12:23:43 GMT -5
In considering the Masonic Architectural design of the Royal Salt Works constructed at Arc et Senans in 1804 it should be noted that the practise of salt refining was likened to the realization of the ideal man based upon Alchemical Philosophy, and that it's centre should thus reflect the utopian ideal in which he should find himself.
Architect Ledoux creates buildings, like Prometheus making people from clay and giving each creation a spark of the fire of life. An architect uses visual metaphors: he depicts a human eye in which an interior of a theater is reflected. It is a symbol of interaction of the social environment with the architectural surrounding. Besides, this is a symbol of the all-seeing eye, which Ledoux mentions in his treatise many times
Believe me, my bail is this piercing pupil which keeps watch over everything
The basic design of the salt works was that of the octagon, the grand design being understood as radiating outward across the land, and the design incorporating all the spiritual qualities involved in refining the new man.
Architect, in his wisdom, disposes; he rules the artistic world, and in his proud solitude he puts to motion the lightnings of the divine will.
Really, the idea of royal salt-works must have inspired Ledoux. Because salt, in alchemic tradition, is a symbol of wisdom and science, salt realizes unity, crystallization between mercury and sulfur, presenting the passive and the active respectively, and salt presents a synthesis of both. Continuing alchemic symbolism, sulfur and mercury modify metal, and this process of dissolution and fixation symbolizes a neophyte’s transition to the initiated. In this aspect, an allegory of marriage of a king and a queen, at which a priest gives orders, in a naïve and poetic manner, presents this union of mercury and sulfur executed by salt
Really, the idea of royal salt-works must have inspired Ledoux. Because salt, in alchemic tradition, is a symbol of wisdom and science, salt realizes unity, crystallization between mercury and sulfur, presenting the passive and the active respectively, and salt presents a synthesis of both. Continuing alchemic symbolism, sulfur and mercury modify metal, and this process of dissolution and fixation symbolizes a neophyte’s transition to the initiated. In this aspect, an allegory of marriage of a king and a queen, at which a priest gives orders, in a naïve and poetic manner, presents this union of mercury and sulfur executed by salt
Ledoux likens the design of the city of Salt to the creation of a new Universe.
The author of nature has composed the world of rivalry of the atoms, chaos developed, and giving space to the world, it gave the atoms an attracting impulse, organized an azure dome, dug out the depth of the seas; today, the fight of floating substances marks a new center and provokes birth of new inhabitants of the earth. Legend tells us that a drop of water falling from the breast of Juno makes the Milky Way; here, it is a drop of water hanging in the air, which, falling, acquires all the greater value and starts a city, whose general plan may be seen drawn on the general map of the country
The author of nature has composed the world of rivalry of the atoms, chaos developed, and giving space to the world, it gave the atoms an attracting impulse, organized an azure dome, dug out the depth of the seas; today, the fight of floating substances marks a new center and provokes birth of new inhabitants of the earth. Legend tells us that a drop of water falling from the breast of Juno makes the Milky Way; here, it is a drop of water hanging in the air, which, falling, acquires all the greater value and starts a city, whose general plan may be seen drawn on the general map of the country
Ledoux was a futuristic visionary, above we see the view toward the Maison du Futur, and he even considered the Supreme Being residing here, and below his design for a centre piece of an architectural garden;
The royal salt-works Arc-et-Senans, the only built element of a Utopian city, is one of essential components. The architect meant to make this works producing salt the heart of his city. In the center of the salt-works there is found the director’s house – a magnificent, impressive, decorated with multiple pillars building with a chapel. This is the seat of the Supreme Being, the priest supervising salt production. The director’s house with a chapel glorifies the might and the blessing of royal power, the emanation of the will of the Supreme Being. It shines and is seen from all quarters as a true heart of salt-works
"All that is material contains Salt, and all Salt can be converted into pure gold by the combined action of Sulphur and Mercury'
Sulphur is the symbol for the spirit, mercury for the soul, and salt for the physical body.
Sulphur is the symbol for the spirit, mercury for the soul, and salt for the physical body.
In considering thee underlying Alchemical principle in this refining then the three elements involved are those of salt, sulphur and Mercury, were Mercury is seen as the Masculine Principle, sulphur or Venus as the feminine, also seen as related to the Sun, and the salt is the extraction from Earth related to the Moon, though there is the potential for divergance and differences here.
Venus, the planet fair, the goddess of love,
Whose beauty the stout god of war allures,
her central salt; whoso has wit to prove,
shall find a key all secrets which assures
the owner for to find; I say no more,
for this disclosed by none, hath been before.
But of this mercury, if you desire, the secret for to learn, attend to me, for this is a water which yet is fire, which conquers bodies from their fixed degree, and makes them fly much like a spirit pure, this after fixing all flame to endure.
Then Lo-a star into this well shall fall, and with its lustrous rays the earth shall shine, Let venus and her influence withal, for she is nurse of this stone divine, The bond of all crystalline mercury This is the spring in which our sun must die
This third element of salt thus refines the Masculine and the Feminine and from the three one is the refined result and this is the essence of spiritual gold.
Opinions will always differ in these regards and i wouldn't consider any of this an exact science, but still the concerns with such are clearly evident at Chaux and the function of the Priest of the Supreme Being is that of salt refinement.
In considering this grand octagonal design one could through which the refinement is determined then perhaps one should also spare a thought for Arachne, who given her skill in weaving saw the grand design of the Olympians, and as reward was transformed into a spider.
Thus while the fate of one was to be transformed into a creepy thing that lurketh in the shadows to be squashed on sight, to the other is seemingly given the running of the World.
All the contestants (well, there were only two) were assembled and ready to begin. The judges sat by as they plyed their looms, eagerly observing as their designs unfolded. Here the stories differ. One version says that Arachne actually WAS a better weaver than Athene. But her design was one of dreadful sacrilege-- while Athene's depicted the Olympian Gods in all their glory, Arachne showed them at the depths of their foolishness with Zeus in the shape of a bull, chasing mortal women. The judges were shocked, and so was Athene. In a rage, she tore down Arachne's tapestry and struck the girl, transforming her into the first spider. "Keep weaving," she said to the quickly shrinking girl. "No one will want your webs now. Weave and weave, and your webs will be swept away, along with you, as nothing but a nuisance."