Resources: Roots Moroccan of Geometric Art
By Sarah Tricha

“Homage to Pythagoras” by Marion Drennen www.quantumconnectionsart.blogspot.com
I have found myself neck deep in Pythagorean theory, which is interesting since Pythagoras didn’t write anything. I got here by researching the origins of zillij. I’m researching connections between astronomy, Pythagoras, Sufism, and Islamic ornamentation.
What do Free Masons and Moroccan artisans have in common? Pythagoras. While the artisan might not be conscious of the connection, the Free Masons refer are much more aware of the historical roots of sacred geometry. At least, that is what I hear. Free masons must be men.
Links below will tell you more about Pythagoras, where he was born, and what is known about his beliefs. He didn’t document his ideas and his followers were sworn to secrecy, so its hard to know what is known. But, he had a clear influence on Plato, Aristotle, and Islamic artisans.
Pythagoras
- Pythagoras Biography
- Pythagoras, Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy
- Pythagoras and Music of the Spheres, unit from a course in Geometry in Art and Architecture at Dartmouth
- The Neoplatonist Roots of Sufi Philosophy, comparative philosophy research paper by Kamuran Godelek at Boston University
- Pythagograms
- Pythagorean & Fractal Geometric Art
Gnomon
The Gnomon, The Labyrinth & The Celestial Tree of Life Presentation by Vincent Bridges at the Subtle Technologies Conference, April 19th 1998, Toronto, Canada.
Astronomy
- Brief History of Astronomy, University of California, San Diego, Center for Astrophysics & Space Sciences
Arabic Numerals
Sufism
- Universal Principals of Islamic Art
- Sufisim and Hinduism
- University of Georgia – Sufism and Sufi Orders
- Ibn Arabi’s Conception of Archetypes
- Sufism Journal
- What is Sufism
- Sufism Overview
Note: The painting is by Marion Drennen and is on a board that has Golden Section Dimensions and the space is broken up into the Golden Section Proportions. Visit Marrion’s website Marion Drennen’s Quantum Connections to learn about and see more her wonderful artwork.
The more I research, the more I am amazed the way Arabic/Islamic contributions to Western intellectual development have been erased from common history. It is bizarre.
Its great that I can basically give myself an ivy league education for free online, but I think I may go broke doing it. Want to click on an ad for me? I’m making about .18 cents a day. Ah, it doesn’t matter. I’m on my way now.
If you have a useful resource to add to this dense subject, please leave a comment. Thanks.


July 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Hello.
I am the artist who painted the “Homage to Pythagoras” painting which is on the LSU math website home page. You have my permission to use the image if you will give me credit & provide the link to my website, which I hope you will visit to view other paintings about numbers, math concepts and mathematicians.
The Arabic/Islamic contributions were essential to Western development (as well as the Indic) and you’re correct that it has been “erased” from our cultural history. It makes us wonder how much of our “history” is true.
Thanks,
Marion
July 10th, 2009 at 5:57 am
Marion,
Great to hear from you and discover your website. I really enjoy your artwork.
Best,
Sarah
October 8th, 2009 at 8:41 am
[...] over Greek learning, which included meanings attached to the movement and position of the stars. Pythagoras, who is credited as being the first person to call himself a philosopher (lover of wisdom), is of [...]