The
marks
of
stonecutters
did
not
begin
to
receive
any
attention
until
the
end
of
the
XIX
century
due
to
the
studies
of
Franz
Rziha
(Bohemia
1831-
1897).
It
is
completely
impossible
in
this
small
article
to
cover
the
complexity of this symbology, as the studies have not yet been completed.
It
seems
that
the
most
accepted
hypothesis
is
that
of
Viollet
le
Duc,
in
which
he
explains
that
most
of
these
signs
are
marks
belonging
to
the
various
Guilds
that
intervened
in
the
work,
as
well
as
those
of
the
stonemason
indicating
the
job
done
and
to
determine
the
corresponding
salary.
Others
like
those
of
settlement
that
consisted
of
small
signs
in
order
to
determine
the
points
of
placing
or
the
beginning
of
the
position
of
a
row
of
stones.
Each
Guild
had
a
master
builder,
and
each
master
his
trademark,
which
was
usually
placed
on
visible
sites
of
the
construction,
such
as
the
vault
key
of
the
portal,
the
cruise
of
the
warhead,
on
the
capitals,
etc.
;
we
can
also
find
it
on
the
shields,
or
inscribed
in
the
architecturally remarkable objects.
For
the
man
of
the
Middle
Ages
the
whole
universe
was
a
system
of
geometric
symbols,
the
symbol
to
him
was
not
an
aesthetic
manifestation,
but it was rather a vital reality.
The
procedures
of
the
design
of
the
diferent
cathedrals,
were
the
same.
The
descriptive
geometry
the
so-called
sacred
geometry,
is
based
on
the
compass
that
designates
the
circle,
the
arch
of
the
circle
that
delimits
and
divides
proportionally,
the
square
representing
the
need
for
the
right
angle,
the
level
and
the
plumb
line
that
represent
respectively
the
horizontality
and
verticality
of
the
work.
The
basic
shapes
were
the
circle,
the
triangle,
the
square,
the
pentagon,
the
hexagon,
the
heptagon,
the
octagon
and
the
dodecagon,
and
it
is
based
on
these
three
fundamental
shapes
the
circle,
the
triangle
and
the
square,
that
the
most
elaborate
Gothic
buildings
are
born.
Each
master
builder
had
his
own
seal,
based
on
these
three
fundamental
shapes
that
formed
a
trilobate
or
a
quadrilobate.
The
master
traced
his
mark
upon
this
basic
figure,
generally
very
elaborate,
and
the
rest
of
the
marks
of
the
components
of
the
Guild
were
only
small
parts
taken
from
the basic and principle figure.
One
can
find
other
signs
or
figures,
which
could
be
signs
of
pilgrims,
meeting points or others without any apparent significance..
THE MASTERS CONSTRUCTORS