The Meander Motif in Art and Architecture

Turnabout is more than fair play since it is also a method for creating the steady, ornamental patterns in art and architecture known as the Meander. Named after the Meander River in South Western Turkey, a river that is not to be slighted as it is mentioned in the Iliad by Homer. The twists and turns of this great river include U shaped Oxbow lakes formed when the river changes course. The course of the Meander River begins as a single path that then twists back and forward again on itself. This same description is the epitome of and precise description of the Meander art motif.

One of the most recognized and historically important Meanders is the Greek Key or Greek Fret as decorative border, on friezes, and some porticos. Fortunately for us, there is quite a variety of different versions and each is a visual delight. The basis for all Greek Keys does remain that the square protruding pieces resemble the shape of key.

The term Greek Fret evolved in that the same design, at least in theory, may have been patterned and cut with a fretsaw, therefore a fret. Both terms are meant to describe the same simplistic, geometric shape, a shape that can also be construed as infinite or even a definition or symbolic description of infinity itself.

Comparisons of the Greek Key to the style of a labyrinth abound, however, other theories include the symbolism of the bonds of love, eternal life, friendship and devotion and also the meander of life. It seems the theories, as well as the motif pattern, are also infinite.

The aesthetics of the Greek Key were pronounce enough that the ancient Romans adopted the pattern for their mosaics. The centuries long, cross-cultural appeal of the Greek Key includes the Nation of Dongson in what is now modern day Vietnam and even the Hopi Nation of North America.

The Meander as a motif is not limited to the Greek Key but provides many other examples of the same twisting and turning basic element. The Chevron is a V shaped pattern that is often used as an insignia for heraldry, a design on flags, road signs, and especially reflected in architecture. When the symbol is linked and repeated it becomes a Meander since it does technically turn back on itself.

Another Meander that was popular in the Medieval Age is the Twisted Ribbon motif. More intricate that the standard Greek Key, the Twisted Ribbon motif includes continuos bands, or ribbons, in a rectilinear, three dimensional pattern.

From ancient Greek temples to modern neo-classical art and architecture, the Meander continues to thrive as a popular ornament and decoration. Perhaps what we generally appreciate is the general quiet constancy of the patterns and motifs, as well as the aesthetics.

Thanks For the Memories

I have a theory that God made me at the end of the workday when heaven was waiting on a new shipment of parts. The supply chain angels may have fallen down on the job. After God had already put in a full day of making miracles, listening to a multitude of problems and a variety of special requests the production day was drawing to an end. The plant thought they would crank out one more human being then call it a day. I can make a strong case that this last human being was me and believe this because I have a large round head placed on top of a long skinny neck. Not exactly an engineering coup d'etat. My poor delicate little neck has been holding up a big bowling ball head for more than forty years. I feel sorry for my neck so I give it a lot of extra time on a pillow while I am lying around watching television.

When I was little I had short white blond, stick straight hair that my mother cut for me to save money on a hairdresser. My mother was a ahead of her time, no pun intended, because she had the forethought to cut one side shorter than the other sidea cut that came into fashion about twenty years later. Go MOM

My skin was very pale white and I just can't describe how attractive this looked with my hair. I had loads of freckles on my face and my two front teeth inverted inwards. Let's not forget the scar in the middle of my forehead from the after affects of chicken pox. I had little spindly legs and arms and a distended stomach. My eyelids had almost no fold in them and I was asked several times by neighborhood children if I was an albino Japanese or Chinese. There are many beautiful Japanese and Chinese people but suffices to say, I was not one of them.

My siblings, especially my sister, constantly teased me and told me I was adopted so when my parents sometimes left for short periods of time I would desperately search for my birth certificate in order to identify my true heritage and birthright. I suspected the parents in the TV show The Adams Family were my true parents and I feared they may come to get me and make me live in their spooky house.

Imagine my shock and surprise when my parents returned from a shopping trip to sears with a full size wood rickshaw. I realized that they were beginning to lay the foundation for telling me about the adoption and I worried and awaited the dreadful day when I would surely be told. Meanwhile, I gave the neighborhood children constant rickshaw rides in an effort to get them to play with me. Time passed and soon the rickshaw was broken beyond repair, then discarded.

As I grew and matured physically I began to resemble my maternal grandmother quite distinctly. It was then I finally realized it had all been much ado about nothing. I did develop into a beauty with no end of offers for dates. My sister was soooo jealous as the tables had completely turned in my favor. Since there was nothing she could do about the situation she tried several times to sabotage and embarrass me. Often she just tried to beat the stuffing out of me.

As I have aged, many strange things have begun to happen with my physical appearance but I will always have the memory of how I was once an ugly duckling that did change into a beautiful swan.