Secret Language of Sacred Spaces: Decoding Churches, Cathedrals, Temples, Mosques and Other Places of Worship Around the World: 4

Jon Cannon

ISBN 10: 1848991118 / ISBN 13: 9781848991118

Published by Watkins Publishing, 2013

About this Item

The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. Seller Inventory # GOR007437165

Bibliographic Details

Title: Secret Language of Sacred Spaces: Decoding ...

Publisher: Watkins Publishing

Publication Date: 2013

Binding: Paperback

Condition: Very Good

About this title

Synopsis:

From Stonehenge to the Sagrada Familia, from the Acropolis to Angkor Wat, human beings have directed extraordinary amounts of energy toward the creation of architecture that expresses their religious beliefs. Indeed, in most cultures throughout history, the greatest buildings are religious ones. Both an overview of architecture and a survey of major faiths, The Secret Language of Sacred Spaces offers fascinating insights into some of the most impressive man-made structures in the world. By revealing how these historical places of worship were used and how the tenets of a faith are encoded in both their structure and embellishment, the book enhances our understanding and appreciation of these enduring testaments to belief and ceremony. The superb full-colour photographs are supplemented by ingenious decoder sections - by using the selective isolation of photographic detail, first we see the whole in glorious colour, and then the detail in context with fascinating explanatory annotations. While the book emphasises the key living faiths, with major sections on Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism and Buddhism, early chapters also look at the great sites of prehistory and antiquity, including the stone circle at Avebury, in southwest England, and the Pyramids at Giza.

Product Description:

This exceptional reference book interprets the significance of the world's most renowned religious buildings, revealing their history and how they are shaped by the faith for which they were created, be it Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism or Hinduism. The historical range is huge, from the first temples of 9000 BCE to the modernist religious architecture of today. An introduction discusses key universal themes in sacred architecture, while special 'decoder' features give detailed analysis of a particular building or decorative scheme.