The 12th Century saw the move away from the Romanesque architecture which had typified the preceding centuries to the era of the great gothic cathedrals which were to become the architectural symbol of the middle ages. The transformation was not simply one of size or scope but a manifestation of the cultural shifts which were occurring as the medieval age commenced.

By this time, numbers and geometry had acquired a metaphysical significance and were believed to have occult symbolism and power. The introduction of sacred geometry into all aspects of the design of places of worship was therefore inevitable and from that time key design features such as the numbers of pillars in the choir, the layout of the floor plan and façade were significantly influenced by the perceived significance of these theories. To understand in more depth how numbers and geometry were incorporated into architectural...