The Mathematics of Beauty > Timeline > 1967 - Tons Brunés
Construction of the Sacred Cut: Draw a square. With a compass open to an amount equal to half a diagonal of the square, swing an arc with center at a corner of the square, passing through the center of the square and cutting two sides of the square. Repeat for the other three corners of the square. Through the eight points of intersection of the arcs and the sides of the square, draw four verticals and four horizontals. The center square formed by this construction is called the sacred cut square. Connecting the eight points of intersection of the arcs and the sides of the square consecutively forms an octagon. The construction can be extended inward, by repeating the construction on the Sacred Cut square. It can also be extended outward, joining the intersections of the circles and the diagonals, to form a square of which the original square is the Sacred Cut square. Brunés calls this construction Sacred because it contains both square and circle, uniting the earthly and the divine as in the Vitruvian man. Furthermore, it squares the circle. The length of the four arcs equal the four diagonals of the half-square. And, as mentioned, it gives the octagon, the shape universally used for baptistries and baptismal fonts. - Paul Calter, Squaring the Circle The original edition of The Secrets of Ancient Geometry and Its Use was published in 1967. Sue Eckermann Golik studied with Mr. Brunés in Copenhagen in the early 1990′s. Following Mr. Brunés’ death in 1995, she acquired the rights to re-publish his books. The new format, designated the “Scholar’s Edition”, is available through Ancient Geometry, Inc. Chapter Headings Volume I:
Volume II:
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The Sacred Cut was coined by the Danish Engineer Tons Brunés, in his book The Secrets of Ancient Geometry and Its Use. In that book he claims the sacred cut is found in the layout of many ancient building, including the Parthenon.