Construction Details

Having satisfied myself that even in rough country,Pentacles could be constructed with reasonable perhaps good accuracy, I have made no attempt to address that issue again in the following slides. Also The orientation of the diagram has been changed so that the N-S lines actually do run North-South not 3 degrees off N-S.

The First Lines

build-10-1 To construct the next pentacle it is first necessary to draw extension lines from the two existing pentaclesThis diagram shows the centre line extensions existing pentacles and the N-S alignment lines.

To identify these lines they have been allocated numbers (1-5, Left to Right)

Another line is required to be be drawn drawn at right angles across the N-S lines and through the intersection point. it will originate from the southernmost point of the left hand Pentagon (E-W line).

Not Obvious

build-10-2


It is now possible to locate the point at which the line running at right angles intersects the fourth N-S line. A line can then be drawn from where the centre line coming from the left intersects N_S line two to where the E-W line intersects N-S line four.

The Unique Circle

build-10-3 A line is drawn from the point of the left hand existing pentacle (lies on N_S line one) to the point of the left hand existing pentacle(lies on N-S line five). A line is constructed parallel to this line, starting at the intersection of the E-W line and N-S line four.(South construction line)

A circle is then constructed. Only one circle can be drawn which is based on the centre point and passes through through the intersection of The North and South construction lines and N-S line three.

The Small Pentagram

< build-10-5 Within this circle, it is now possible to draw a small pentagram. This pentagram is the key to drawing the new pentacle.

The Pentacles Emerge

build-10-6 All this can be achieved by using the unique properties of the pentacles without the measurement of a single angle and without any measurement of distances.

Nevertheless the angles of both the pentagam are now known and can immediately be used to plot directions.

From the pentagram it is now a relatively easy task to create two pentacles, one within the pentagram by joining the points of the pentagram and a second outside the pentagram simply by extending the sides

The Topography

construction-04 Returning to the 3D topographical view it can be seen that the second, larger pentacle spreads well outside the central hill on which the smaller pentacle is situated. There is of course no reason why the smaller pentacle should sit so neatly on the hill. it could just as easily been draped down the side or from the top to bottom of a steep cliff! After more experimentation I believe the same basic technique could be used in any situation.

Final Construction

build-10-7 The first two sides of the main pentacle. This is achieved by drawing lines through four of the points of the new medium sized pentacle.


build-10-9 Now the pentacle can be completed by drawing lines through all the points. There has still been no need to construct angles or make measurements. All this has been achieved by drawing straight lines and one small circle.

The Lincoln Pentacle is unique

construction-05 The new pentacle stretches out from the previous existing pentacles over rugged terrain. As can be seen the elevations conform to no specific pattern, unlike the pentacle at Rennes le Château where all the points are on or close to hilltops.

It is possible that the pentacle at Rennes le Château was and is famous because of this unique property. Concurrence with hilltops would be a chance event and most unusual.

On The Ground

central-pentacle-2 The google elevation profiles are now marked up to show the positioning of the central small pentacle in two different directions the darker red portions of the elevation graph show the positioning of the central small pentacle

central-pentacle Eventually I walked over every kilometre of this terrain, looking for ancient pegs or marker stones. I did not find any despite being able to pick out with some confidence the north-south lines and the centre lines.

The only point where there might have been difficulty in construction would have been where the lines ran through a large copse of trees. I came to the conclusion that the lines would have been partially cleared at ground level underneath the tree canopy.

construction-08 I spent some time walking around the small central pentacle. On the ground I became convinced that the tracks in the area touched every point of the pentacle. This is not confirmed by Google earth though they come very close. There is also a minor track which runs across the pentacle and passes very close to the centre. This does not show at all on Google.

Leave a Reply

The most dangerous woman in the world

The Treasure of Trencavel

List of Characters

Table Of Contents

References

characters

List of Places

Table of Contents

Pseudo History

home

Extract from The Prisoner of Foix--Chapter 43 -The EntranceNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley-26th April 1355

 

'Looks like we are going to see a bit of excitement, John. The Captain tried to get an agreement from the Prince that if there is surf running across the channel to Arcachon we will turn back to Bordeaux, but the Prince would hear none of it. Instead, he has offered to provide insurance for all three ships. If they are damaged or sunk, the owners will be compensated and every sailor who makes the passage will be given a bounty payment. What none of this seems to take into account is that if we sink in rough, fast-flowing waters we might all drown.'

John raised his eyebrows. 'But that is what we are going to do?'

'Yes, despite the fact that surf running accross the entrance is not uncommon and the deep water channel moves continually. In the end, the Prince attacked their captains on their weakest point, their professional pride! He threw down the gauntlet. He offered to take the Sally first through the channel, and to take control during the passage.' He raised his brow. 'We are going into the Bay of Arcachon, come what may! '

Extract from The Eagle of Carcassone -- Chapter 24-- A Real GoddessNo need to buy a Kindle. Read it on your computer or tablet

John Stanley - 22 July 1355

An hour later John walked with Ximene close to the river along the valley below St Feriole. It was the very essence of a summer’s day. The sun was fierce but in the shadow of the trees, it was cool and fragrant. The trees and shrubs along the riverbank hid their progress, from the Château, from St Feriole.

Eventually they reached a point where John thought it was safe to emerge from cover. To his satisfaction the stream extended into a pool with a sandy beach, shaded by trees. Where the stream entered the pool there was a flat grassy area, almost circular. Behind this, the bulk of two mountain ridges provided a splendid backdrop. He looked around once more ‘Not just a good training ground but a great training ground. If the Greek heroes knew about this they might be tempted to join me, to train with me’

Ximene laughed out loud. He turned to look at her. She had removed her outer clothes and was wearing a white chemise, cut short so that it barely reached her knees. Around her waist, she wore a plaited leather belt, obviously fashioned from the multitude of leather straps to be found in the tackle room.

She ran her hands down over her breasts. ‘When you were unconscious I heard you muttering about gods and goddesses, so  I have decided that from now on, for you, I will be the goddess.’

The Prisoner of FoixVol 1 of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

Aquitaine, an English possession, is in crisis. It is under threat from neighbouring nations and internal dissension.

The Black Prince, King Edward III’s eldest son has been given the task of taking command in Aquitaine.

Suddenly there is an opportunity. Ximene Trencavel is the heiress to the lands of Occitan, to the east of Aquitaine: lands controlled by the Franks. Ximene wants independence, both for herself and for Occitan.

A union between Aquitaine and Occitan would be mutually beneficial. The Black Prince undertakes a secret journey to meet Ximene to negotiate a marriage contract. It is, however, a marriage neither of them really wants.

Meanwhile, the  Franks plot to murder Ximene to prevent ,not just the marriage, but any kind of union between England and Occitan.

The Eagle Of CarcassonneVol II of the series—The Treasure of Trencavel

The loose alliance between Ximene Trencavel and the Black Prince is under threat.

The Prince invades Occitan, to show his support for Ximene but it becomes an invasion which creates more problems than it solves.

The Prince has fallen hopelessly in love with Joan of Kent and Joan is now determined to marry him and become the next Queen of England.

Joan is therefore  determined to convince Ximene that she should not marry the Prince.

Part of her strategy is to encourage Ximene’s relationship with John Stanley—one of the Princes bodyguards—not an easy task as both John and Ximene have doubts about their compatibility.

However, John is grievously injured in a battle and Ximene commits herself to nurse him back to health.