Miscellanies 6.11.86
Summary: Geometry is illustrated by the tabernacle and Noah's ark, whose square timbers and pyramid-like proportions point to the holy dwelling places and to those purified by fire.
Greek text · Stählin 2:474–475
Τοῦτο μὲν οὖν τὸ εἶδος τοῦ ἀριθμητικοῦ ὑποδείγματος· γεωμετρίας δὲ ἔστω μαρτύριον ἡ κατασκευαζομένη σκηνὴ καὶ τεκταινομένη κιβωτός, ἀναλογίαις τισὶ λογικωτάταις, θείαις ἐπινοίαις κατασκευαζόμεναι, κατὰ συνέσεως δόσιν, ἐκ τῶν αἰσθητῶν εἰς τὰ νοητά, μᾶλλον δὲ ἐκ τῶνδε εἰς τὰ ἅγια καὶ τῶν ἁγίων τὰ ἅγια μεταγούσης ἡμᾶς. τὰ μὲν γὰρ τετράγωνα ξύλα τῷ τὸ τετράγωνον σχῆμα πάντῃ βεβηκέναι ὀρθὰς γωνίας ἐπιτελοῦν τὸ ἀσφαλὲς δηλοῖ. καὶ μῆκος μὲν τριακόσιοι πήχεις τοῦ κατασκευάσματος, πλάτος δὲ ν΄, βάθος δὲ λ΄· καὶ εἰς πῆχυν ἄνωθεν συντελεῖται, ἐκ τῆς πλατείας βάσεως ἀποξυνομένη πυραμίδος τρόπον, ἡ κιβωτός, τῶν διὰ πυρὸς καθαιρομένων καὶ δοκιμαζομένων σύμβολον. ἡ γεωμετρικὴ αὕτη παρέχεται ἀναλογία εἰς παραπομπὴν τῶν ἁγίων ἐκείνων μονῶν, ὧν τὰς διαφορὰς αἱ διαφοραὶ τῶν ἀριθμῶν τῶν ὑποτεταγμένων μηνύουσιν.
English · Claude translation
This, then, is the kind of arithmetical example. As a testimony of geometry let there be the tabernacle that was built and the ark that was constructed, made with most rational proportions by divine designs, by the gift of understanding, which leads us from sensible things to intelligible ones, or rather from these to the holy things and the holy of holies. For the square timbers show security, because the square figure stands on right angles on every side. The length of the structure was three hundred cubits, its breadth fifty, and its height thirty; and the ark is finished off in a cubit at the top, tapering from its broad base in the manner of a pyramid, a symbol of those who are purified and tested by fire. This geometrical proportion serves to escort us to those holy dwelling places whose differences are indicated by the differences of the numbers set out here.
About this passage
Notes
Translation notes
- The dimensions are those of Noah's ark (Gen 6:14–16 LXX, “square timbers”; finished “to a cubit above”). “Pyramid” (πυραμίς) is linked with “fire” (πῦρ). The dwelling places (μοναί) recall John 14:2.
Cite this passage
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.11.86 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/6/11/86/).
Plain text
Clement of Alexandria, Strom. 6.11.86 (trans. Sophia Scriptura, https://sophiascriptura.com/fathers/clement-stromata/6/11/86/).
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