The Rosettes in Biblical mythological interpretation

[Koen G]

Something I would like to clear out first is the assignment of directions to the four corners. There seems to be some agreement that the cardinal directions are on the diagonals, but two (or more?) interpretations with 180° difference. Since it might be better to consider this in general (not necessarily within a biblical framework) I will make a separate thread.

For the spiral sky, there is actually a better parallel in art and the bible. I do not know how to fit this into the page as a whole since it is from the book of Revelation. I will quote some more of Revelation 6 for context:

12I watched as he opened the sixth seal. There was a great earthquake. The sun turned black like sackcloth made of goat hair, the whole moon turned blood red, 13and the stars in the sky fell to earth, as figs drop from a fig tree when shaken by a strong wind. 14The heavens receded like a scroll being rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.

15Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and everyone else, both slave and free, hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. 16They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us f from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! 17For the great day of their g wrath has come, and who can withstand it?”

Now the heavens being rolled up like a scroll may not sound like a spiral, but it was sometimes depicted as such. 

   

St Cyril church, Kiev, 12th century; Chora Church, 14th century.

My memory may be deceiving me, but I seem to recall there was an even better example somewhere, however I am unable to find it so maybe it was one of those. There is also one in the Scrovegni chapel, but this is less spiraly You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view.