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The Fibonacci Rectangles in Lalibela and Their Significance for the Reconstruction of the Vanished Cathedral of Aksum

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Abstract

The Lalibela rock-hewn churches have been characterized as examples of the equal-equal proportioning system. This paper advances the characterization through the medieval royal camping traditions and what are now called Fibonacci Rectangles. The study is based on geometrical analyses of seven photogrammetrically rendered orthogonal views from three selected structures. The overlay analysis compared an ideal geometric system to inherently inexact artifacts. Accordingly, the comparison was tested against a literary architectural proportioning system mentioned in the medieval Book of Aksum, and a schematic site plan of the vanished Aksum cathedral was thus reconstructed as an antithesis. There appears to be an intention by the medieval designers to have adhered to patterns of concentric circles and rectangles in the Fibonacci sequence. The patterns appear to radiate from the centers of the façades and from the main entrances as well, suggesting a solar system based cosmological symbolism.

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Acknowledgements

We are most grateful to the mature criticism of the reviewer, and the diligently provided edits by the devoted guest editor, Prof. Dr. Stephen Wassell. This paper could not be realized without the generous editorial work of the excellent Editor-in Chief, Mrs. Kim Williams. All images are by the author.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Architecture, Addis Ababa Science and Technology University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Matiyas Bekele Fantaye

  2. EIABC, Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

    Tibebu Assefa

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  1. Matiyas Bekele Fantaye
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  2. Tibebu Assefa
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Correspondence to Matiyas Bekele Fantaye.

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Fantaye, M.B., Assefa, T. The Fibonacci Rectangles in Lalibela and Their Significance for the Reconstruction of the Vanished Cathedral of Aksum. Nexus Netw J 25, 231–251 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00004-022-00637-5

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