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| Basic Solomon's knot | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Braid length | 7 |
| Braid no. | 4 |
| Crossing no. | 4 |
| Hyperbolic volume | 0 |
| Linking no. | 2 |
| Stick no. | 5 |
| Unknotting no. | 2 |
| Conway notation | [4] |
| Thistlethwaite | L4a1 |
| Last / Next | L2a1 / L5a1 |
| Other | |
| alternating | |
Solomon's knot (Latin:sigillum Salomonis,lit. 'Solomon's seal') is a traditionaldecorative motif used since ancient times, and found in many cultures. Despite the name, it is classified as alink, and is not a trueknot according to the definitions of mathematicalknot theory.
The Solomon's knot consists of two closed loops, which are doubly interlinked in aninterlaced manner. If laid flat, the Solomon's knot is seen to have four crossings where the two loops interweave under and over each other. This contrasts with two crossings in the simplerHopf link.
In most artistic representations, the parts of the loops that alternately cross over and under each other become the sides of a central square, while four loopings extend outward in four directions. The four extending loopings may haveoval,square, ortriangular endings, or may terminate with free-form shapes such as leaves, lobes, blades, wings etc.
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The Solomon's knot often occurs inancient Romanmosaics, usually represented as two interlaced ovals.
Sepphoris National Park, Israel, has Solomon's Knots in stone mosaics at the site of an ancient synagogue.[citation needed]
Across the Middle East, historical Islamic sites show Solomon's knot as part of Muslim tradition. It appears over the doorway of an early twentieth century CE mosque/madrasa in Cairo. Two versions of Solomon's knot are included in the recently excavatedYattir Mosaic in Jordan. To the east, it is woven into an antique Central Asian prayer rug. To the west, Solomon's knot appeared in Moorish Spain, and it shines in leaded glass windows in a late twentieth century CE mosque in the United States. The British Museum, London, England has a fourteenth-century CE Egyptian Qur'an with a Solomon's Knot as its frontispiece.[citation needed]
University of California at Los Angeles Fowler Museum of Cultural History, USA has a large African collection that includes nineteenth and twentieth century CE Yoruba glass beadwork crowns and masks decorated with Solomon's Knots.[citation needed]
Home of Peace Mausoleum, a Jewish Cemetery, Los Angeles, California, USA has multiple images of Solomon's knot in stone and concrete bas reliefs sculpted 1934 CE.[citation needed]
Saint Sophia's Greek Orthodox Cathedral, "Byzantine District" of Los Angeles, California, USA has an olive wood Epitaphios (bier for Christ) with Solomon's knots carved at each corner. The Epitaphios is used in the Greek Easter services.[citation needed]
Powell Library University of California at Los Angeles, USA has ceiling beams in the Main Reading Room covered with Solomon's Knots. Built in 1926 CE, the reading room also features a central Dome of Wisdom bordered by Solomon's knots.[1]
In Latin, this configuration was sometimes known assigillum Salomonis, meaning literally 'seal of Solomon'. It was associated with theBiblical monarchSolomon because of his reputation for wisdom and knowledge (and in some legends, his occult powers). This phrase is usually rendered into English as "Solomon's knot", since "seal of Solomon" has other conflicting meanings (often referring to either aStar of David orpentagram). In the study of ancient mosaics, the Solomon's knot is often known as a "guilloche knot" or "duplex knot", while a Solomon's knot in the center of a decorative configuration of four curving arcs is known as a "pelta-swastika" (wherepelta is Latin for "shield").[citation needed]
Among other names currently in use are the following:
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Since the knot has been used across a number of cultures and historical eras, it can be given a range of symbolic interpretations.
Because there is no visible beginning or ending, it may represent immortality and eternity—as does the more complicated BuddhistEndless Knot.
Because the knot seems to be two entwined figures, it is sometimes interpreted as a Lover's Knot, although that name may indicateanother knot.
Because of religious connections, the knot is sometimes designated the all-faith symbol of faith, but, at the same time, it appears in many places as a valued secular symbol of prestige, importance, beauty.
Solomon's Knot appears on tombstones and mausoleums in Jewish graveyards and catacombs in many nations. In this context, Solomon's Knot is currently interpreted to symbolize eternity.
Some seek to connect it with Solomon by translating the Hebrew wordpeka'im (פקעים) found in the Bible at I Kings 6:18 and I Kings 7:24 as meaning "knobs" or "knots", and interpreting it to refer to Solomon's knot; however, the more accepted modern translation of this word is "gourd-shaped ornaments".
In Africa, Solomon's knot is found on glass beadwork, textiles, and carvings of theYoruba people. When the knot appears in this culture, it often denotes royal status; thus, it is featured on crowns, tunics, and other ceremonial objects. Also in Africa, the Knot is found on Kasai velvet, the raffia woven cloth of theKuba people. They attribute mystical meaning to it, as do theAkan people of West Africa who stamp it on their sacred Adinkra cloth. In theAdinkra symbol system, a version of Solomon's knot is theKramo-bone symbol, interpreted as meaning "one being bad makes all appear to be bad".
In Latvia, when Solomon's knot is used on textiles and metal work, it is associated with time, motion, and the powers of ancient pagan gods.[citation needed]
In modern science, some versions of the conventionalized sign for an atom (electrons orbiting a nucleus) are variations of Solomon's knot. The logo of theJoomla software program is a Solomon's knot.
A book-length illustrated study of Solomon's Knot isSeeing Solomon's Knot, With Photographs by Joel Lipton by Lois Rose Rose, Los Angeles, 2005 (official websitehttp://www.StoneandScott.com/solomonsknot.aspArchived 2016-03-10 at theWayback Machine).
A few archaeological reports, art books, craft manuals, museum catalogs, auction catalogs, travel books, and religious documents which discuss or depict the Solomon's Knot configuration are listed below:
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