The Latent Architecture of the Abrahamic Faiths Mark W. Baechler, Dipl.Arch.Tech., B.Arch.S. A thesis submitted to the faculty of Graduate Studies and Research in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture (M.ARCH) Professional. Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Mark W. Baechler © 2006 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 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Abstract As a means of designing Abrahamic architecture this thesis investigates the interconnections within the theological representation of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Throughout the development of Abrahamic religions the theologies of the faiths have been rendered in numerous communicative mediums. The sacred texts are the most predominate form of representation and they serve most often as the authoritative foundation of its various counterparts. The literary composition of the Torah, New Testament and Qur’an are discussed to reveal the underlying interpretive framework of the texts which encouraged the translation of Abrahamic theology into increasingly more connotative forms of imagery and architecture. Interwoven compositions of imagery and architecture found within the early remnants of the faiths are discussed as Allegorical spaces which reveal the theological and material dimensions of the Abrahamic universe. It is the latent architecture found within the Allegorical imagery of the Abrahamic faiths that shapes the reality of the faithful and informs a design philosophy from which Abrahamic architecture emerges. ii Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace. -Torah -Numbers 6:24-26 Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.” So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. -New Testament -Galatians 3:7-9 In the creation of the heavens and the earth; in the alternation of the night and day; in the sailing of ships through the ocean for the benefit of mankind; in the water which Allah sends down from the sky and with which He revives the earth after its death, and dispersing over it all kinds of beasts; in the ordinance of the winds and clouds that are driven between earth and sky: are signs for people who understand. -Qur’an -Sura 2:164 Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. Table of Contents List of Figures v List of Appendices ix Introduction 1 1.0 Abrahamic Sacred Texts:.................................................................................... 4 1.1 Northrop Frye: Language Framework 5 1.1.1 Poetic Language 6 1.1.2 Metonymic Language 8 1.1.3 Descriptive Language 12 1.2 Revelation Language 13 2.0 Allegory:................................................................................................................ 16 2.1 Torah -Numbers 20: 5-12 17 2.2 New Testament -Mark 4:3-20 19 2.3 Qur’an -Sura 2:26, Sura 24:35 22 3.0 Abrahamic Imagery:............................................................................................ 25 3.1 Jewish Imagery 25 3.2 Christian Imagery 29 3.3 Islamic Imagery 36 4.0 Allegorical Space:................................................................................................ 42 4.1 The Latent Architecture of the Abrahamic Faiths 42 4.2 Dura-Europos Synagogue 43 4.2.1 Allegorical Space of the Prayer Hall 52 4.2.2 Representation of Allegorical Space 62 4.3 Dura-Europos House church 63 4.3.1 Allegorical Space of the Baptistery 66 4.3.2 Representation of Allegorical Space 66 4.4 Ka’ba 69 4.4.1 Allegorical space of the Ka’ba 73 4.4.2 Representation of Allegorical Space 74 5.0 Abrahamic Space: ............................................................................................... 77 5.1 Abrahamic Theological Space 77 5.2 Santa Maria la Blanca (Saint Mary the White) Synagogue/ Church 78 and Transito (or Prince’s) Synagogue/ Church 5.3 El Cristo de la Luz (Christ of the light) Mosque/ Church 84 5.4 Ayasofya (Hagia Sophia) Church/ Mosque 86 6.0 Abrahamic Architecture:..................................................................................... 102 6.1 Mar Elias University 102 6.2 Architectural Representation of Abrahamic Allegorical Space 107 Appendices 120 Bibliography 158 iv Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. List of Figures Figure Number: Description: 1 The Well of the Wilderness: Moses Gives Water to the Twelve Tribes. Image from Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period. Erwin R. Goodenough, (New York: Bollingen Foundation, 1964). 2 Imagery of the Callistus Catacomb. Image from The Invisible God. Paul Finney, (New York: Oxford University Press, 1994). 3 Moses Receiving the Law. Image from Early Medieval Bible Illumination and the Ashburnham Pentateuch. Dorothy Verkerk, (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2004). 4 Kufic Calligraphy Illumination of Sura 1, or “The Opening”. Image from Islamic Art and Spirituality. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, (Albany: State University of New York Press, 1987). 5 Qur’anic Revelation within Dome at the Alhambra, Granada, Spain. (M. Baechler). 6 Dura-Europos Arial Image and Archeological Urban Plan. Image from Dura-Europos and its Art. M. Rostovtzeff, (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1938). 7 Excavation of Dura-Europos Synagogue. Images from The Synagogue. Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). 8 Urban Block Plan of the Dura-Europos Synagogue. Image from The Synagogue. Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). 9 Reconstructed Plan of First Renovation and Field Plan of the Dura- Europos Synagogue. Images from The Synagogue. By Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). 10 Reconstructed Plan of Second Renovation of the Dura-Europos Synagogue. Image from The Synagogue. Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). 11 Reconstructed Sections of First and Second Renovation of the Dura- Europos Synagogue. Images from The Synagogue. Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). 12 Aedicula and Torah niche of the Dura-Europos Synagogue. Image from The Synagogue. Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). v Reproduced with permission of the copyright owner. Further reproduction prohibited without permission. 13 Allegorical Imagery of the Dura-Europos Synagogue. Image from Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period. Erwin R. Goodenough, (New York: Bollingen Foundation, 1964). 14 Reconstructed Image of the Tree of Life. Image from The Synagogue. Carl H. Kraeling, (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1979). 15 Moses, Abraham and Samuel. Image from Jewish Symbols in the Greco- Roman Period. Erwin R. Goodenough, (New York: Bollingen Foundation, 1964). 16 Aaron and the priests at the Temple or Tabernacle. Image from Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period. Erwin R. Goodenough, (New York: Bollingen Foundation, 1964). 17 Moses Discovered in the Nile River. Image from Jewish Symbols in the Greco-Roman Period. Erwin R. Goodenough, (New York: Bollingen Foundation, 1964). 18 Allegorical Space of the Dura-Europos Synogogue. (M. Baechler). 19 Reconstructed Plan of original