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Iceni Magazine | March 28, 2024

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A Brief History Of Stonemasonry

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Stonemasonry was one of the earliest forms of crafts known by the human races since man discovered how to use tool to make sculptures from rocks and stones.

The craft of stone masonry has been used to construct many structures, monument and even great cities all over the world. Ancient stone masons include Sophroniscus, the father of Socrates. He was an excellent stone cutter. This article will take a look at a brief history of stonemasonry and is development throughout the ages. A brief history of stonemasonry can be dated to the early ages.

A brief history of stonemasonry starts with calligraphy,a form of stone masonry that involves making writings on stones to convey a certain message. This is the first known form of communication in human history.Egypt, home of civilisation, was where hieroglyphics, a form of writing to communicate in stones, walls and clay tablets was first developed. After the emergence of Egyptian hieroglyphics, many other forms of communication were devised with the emergence of different civilisations across the world.

The emergence of Chinese calligraphy can be dated back to 6000 BC. This was considered as a very high form of art. During this time, stonemasons used this form of calligraphy to write ancients scriptures. Such scriptures include; Canterbury Tales, The Bible as well as the Anglo-Saxon poem called ‘Beowolf’. It is worth noting that there is a great variation between calligraphy used in Eastern tradition and those that were used in Western traditions. Eastern traditions include Chinese and Indian Calligraphy.

Western calligraphy was mostly done on papyrus surface and stones. It first existence can be traced back to the Middle Ages when scribes and other religious appointees produced many manuscripts that were spread all over the occupational land. They were considered artists, and some of their works are highlighted in gold painting.

During the middle ages, stonemasons were highly in demand. Members of the guild gave rise to the three types of stonemason categories. They were journeymen, apprentices and master masons. Apprentices usually got their skills through their masters by training until they learned the art. Journeymen were considered to have a higher level of skill. They would often go to long journeys to help their master masons. Master masons were considered freemen and could travel to any part of the world to carry out their work. Medieval stonemasons were known to curve personal symbols onto their block so as to distinguish their piece of art from other stonemasons.

Western calligraphy was mostly done on papyrus surface and stones. It first existence can be traced back to the Middle Ages when scribes and other religious appointees produced many manuscripts that were spread all over the occupational land. They were considered artists, and some f their works are highlighted in gold painting.

During the later stages of Middle Ages, paper became more readily available because of continued and enhanced civilisation. This period introduced a more standardised lettering of Western calligraphy and were prescribed rules can be found.

During the Renaissance, the stonemason’s guild admitted members who were not originally stonemasons. During this period, stonemasonry returned to prominence. Great human philosophers that were present at that time gave people ambition to create marvelous art work from stones like sculptures. In Florence, great structures like the Fountain of Neptune and Cathedral of Santa Marie del Foire were built by a famous stonemason called Michelangelo Buonarrioti.

Western calligraphy as a form of writing and communication has evolved over the ages. The minuscule script, also referred to as Carolingian script, refers to a script that almost takes a similar form to our modern handwriting. The Carolingian script was later developed as the calligraphic standard. This was done so as to gain recognition across different parts of Europe. However, in the twentieth century, there have been many modifications to this style such as change in shape and style of the letters. There are different styles and formation including the modern day ‘italics’.

Presently, stone masonry still has its space in the modern world even with the development of technology. Even though we use digital machines in the production of document, stonemasons and artists, like David M Gibson, still maintain their status in their society.

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