Professor Joseph
Turbeville, in his book, "A Glimmer of Light from the Eye of a Giant", provides the reader with an excursion into the
possible meaning of ancient reckoning numbers and their relationship with
the numbers in nature. Turbeville offers numerous tables based upon the
"famous Fibonacci series that appears in many natural growth processes" and,
others based upon "numerical reduction of multidigit numbers to single digits". He utilizes "distilled Fibonacci numbers
and multiples" presented in tables of rows and columns of digits that
produce numbers and fractals that are suggestive of ancient, historically
significant numbers. Turbeville is
surprised at the "symmetry, both numerical and graphical", that the tables
generate. He then proceeds to relate his findings to specific events in
history, such as the possible relationship of these tables to the
measurements found in ancient structures, such as that of the Great Pyramid
of the Giza Plateau. There are many different number series that the author
cites, but special attention may is given to the intriguing 1-8-9 count, found in the baseline measurement of the Great Pyramid (756 ft = 4 x 189). And,
the author then relates such measurements to the possible use of pi as
expressed as a reciprocal of seven (3.142857). Another number series count
that receive great emphasis concerns the 216c (216, 432, 864, etc.).
The cited number series and counts are thus related to events in nature, such as relationships to the circumference of the
Earth, among other phenomena. The suggestion is that the theoretical tables
of numbers possibly reveal sources of data for the construction of ancient
monuments, such as the Great Pyramid. The author questions the fact whether
the ancients may have devised similar tables for the construction of their
works. Undoubtedly, Turbeville contributes to the interpretation that the
ancient reckoning system and the measurements of ancient, monumental
constructions were based upon serious and
profound theoretical thinking.
Anyone who first views
the Great Pyramid might superficially conclude that it is the result of the
rudimentary practice of piling stone upon stone. But,
as one penetrates the interior of the ancient pyramids of Egypt (and those
of other parts of the world), the fact becomes obvious that their
construction is based upon theoretical engineering knowledge, that in most
cases still surpasses today's thinking. The corbelled ceilings within the ancient pyramids, defy explanation, even in contemporary
engineering thought, not so much in terms of how they work and function, but
how someone could have built them without modern-day machinery. From there,
it is not difficult to understand the relationships drawn between the
mirror-image numbers of Turbeville's tables and the mirrored patterns within
ancient artwork on all levels and in different fields of endeavor. From the
repeat, mirrored patterns of tapestries to those of the pyramids, one can
visualize a mathematical basis to the geometric patterns. The Turbeville Tables contribute to just such a
visualization.
The author, in this
manner, draws numerous relationships among theoretical mathematics and
geometry, the encoded measurements of ancient artwork, and the number and
fractal series existing in nature. On the whole, our societies of today are recognizably more distant and withdrawn from any
day-to-day contact with nature. Understandably, our ancestors were more directly related to the secrets of
nature. The very fact that their apparent philosophical thought and
symbolism, their monumental structures, their vision in art seems to attest
to a closer relationship to nature, would only suggest a theoretical and
conceptual basis linked to the math and geometry of nature itself. Yet,
many scholars today resist in accepting the obvious, and limit their
perception by visualizing an ancient world handicapped by ignorance.
Many scholars contemplate the Great Pyramid
and see no great work, but only the piling of stone upon stone, in a most
empirical, brick-layer's fashion. They perceive
no theoretical, conceptual design. They see, as it were, only a pile of
rubble. And, they are of no mind to concede
greatness to the ancients. When one reads the writings of scholars who deny
the obvious accomplishments of the ancients, immediately one wonders how
these scholars might think we got where we are from that ignorant past.
They enjoy viewing our contemporary societies as the epitome of all things
past, yet all things past are looked down upon,
frowned upon.
Turbeville's quite vision through
numbers and fractals greatly reinforces the obvious: that the ancients knew
much more than meets the eye. The Great Pyramid is not great because of the
technical feat of having piled stone upon stone. But,
rather, its greatness lies in the perceived theoretical basis for its very
conception, and obviously, execution. The greatness flows from the fact that
numbers are perceived as mirror images, and that the simple sums of distilled numbers lead to unsuspecting posits.
All numbers are related, just as one relates to two, and two relates to three,
and so on infinitely so. Therefore, to find relationships one might
consider to be no great accomplishment. But, that would be the initial impression when
considering the nature of numbers. But, to find
specific number and fractal series as in the Fibonacci series in the light
of fractal numbers, and historically significant numbers (another expression
for fractal numbers), in some of the great works of the ancients, can only
spur the reader onto researching even more relationships. It seems
difficult to think that the ancient Egyptians happened upon the 189c, and the ancient maya happened upon an 819c, and that these two opposing events in history
were simply that, a mere coincidence. Turbeville does not explore the k'awil, 819c, as we have done in our own
research, but Turbeville's Tables serve as another stepping stone to comprehending such relationships and coincidences
found in the past.
Turbeville's Tables suggest many
other relationships among the ancient counts, although not stated
specifically, such as those of the cited Khufu Mile of 6048 feet.
This count brings to mind the ancient maya long-count number/fractal of 4608c. The 6076 ft. cited by
Turbeville of "one minute of arc" being equal to
"one nautical mile" reminds us of the 676c of the Legend of the Four
Suns of the ancient Mesoamericans. There are far too many examples in
Turbeville's work to cite in such a brief review. But,
we encourage the reader to explore these coincidences. The number/fractal
series, such as 4608, 6408, 8640, 6480, 4860, 4680, etc., found
throughout the ancient reckoning systems around the world, apparently are
not the result of a myriad of coincidences. They suggest an underlying
theoretical management of the art of counting and mathematical computation,
especially when we find these same series within geometry and theoretical
constructs such as Turbeville's Tables.
ã2000
Copyrighted by Charles William Johnson. All rights reserved. Earth/matriX:
Science in Ancient Artwork & Science Today, P.O. Box 231126, New Orleans,
Louisiana, 70183-1126. (504) 733-9291 Tel/Fax. www.earthmatrix.com
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