circle, triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon

From the farthest reaches of antiquity to the land artists of the 60's and beyond, man has always engaged in the marking of his environment, for domestic, military, artistic or spiritual purposes among many.

The word "geometry" itself, is derived from two greek words, and means earth measurement.
The term "sacred geometry" is used by archaeologists, anthropologists, and geometricians to encompass the religious, philosohical, and spiritual beliefs that have sprung up around geometry in various cultures during the course of human history.

Picasso and Einstein were both influenced by the French thinker Henri Poincaré, who published his book La Science et l'Hypothèse in 1902. In it he argued that, far from being universally or absolutely true, the Euclidean geometry that had defined mathematics since ancient times was only one of many possible systems, its three dimensions nothing like the only ones that could be conceived. But, said Poincaré, Euclid's is the most 'convenient' set of assumptions with which to negotiate life....

In the earliest days of urban development streets tended to be named after landmarks, like Church, Market, Monument, Canal, Wall, Court, Dock, etc., obvious topographic or hydrological features like Hill or Water, or references to the street's position like East or Middle. Often major streets would be named for symbols of power and authority, like State or King or Queen.

The whole concept was that a "street" was an urban feature (roads outside cities were subject to different rules and usually not named at all), and the word "street" tended to be an assumed descriptor rather than part of the name. Hence you see references to "Church street" as opposed to today's "Church Street".

Now whereas in the 1850’s the naming of streets after varieties of trees suddenly found favour (due to a shift in the view of Nature: as offering beauty, safety and cleanliness in contrast with the filth and crowding of the early industrial city) these days it is more likely that you’ll find your local neighbourhood labelled with the names of famous sportsman, politicians or celebrities.

It is perhaps surprising then to discover that there are five thoroughfares in London that bare the names of the five simplest polygons: circle, triangle, square, pentagon, hexagon.

Dædalus - third rate philosopher:
daed@neoneodadadar.org.uk