3 upvotes, 2 direct replies (showing 2)
View submission: Baha'i Symbolism Question
In Haifa, there's a lot of things that don't have symbolic meaning and are really just for decoration. For example, the gardens have lots of 8-pointed stars (have you ever tried to make a 9-pointed star out of flowers?), the sculptures of birds, fountains, etc. Yet, in your picture are the 5-pointed stars and the ringstone symbol -- both of which are significant. I think you already know about those. I haven't seen the bottom one anywhere else, but I think it's similar in symbolism to a 9-pointed star. There's also a 9-pointed star where the columns end at the top facing the sea.
As far as reaching Bahá'ís, there is a public information office under the middle terrace (where the terraces cross over Hatzionut) that I think some of the tours visit, and there's more likely people who can answer questions there. Also, at this time of year there are probably lots of Bahá'í visitors on pilgrimage, and I would be surprised if it's hard to spot them. I can pm you an email address for administrative contact there as a last resort.
Comment by Zoonationalist at 21/05/2015 at 12:29 UTC
2 upvotes, 1 direct replies
I've heard the anecdotal story of Shoghi Effendi saying something to that effect, (8 instead of 9), but he has also stated that the 8 pointed stars are indeed intentional, and are referencing a verse in the Qur'an ("On that Day Eight shall bear the throne of The Lord"). I'll find the source for Shoghi Effendi's statement for you when I'm not on my phone!
Comment by slabbb- at 30/05/2015 at 02:10 UTC*
1 upvotes, 0 direct replies
In Haifa, there's a lot of things that don't have symbolic meaning and are really just for decoration
Except traditionally even apparently arbitrary meanings and choices as to shapes, forms, numbers and so on had esoteric and exact meaning. Would they be merely decorative in this occasion, when this is at the 'center' externally, architecturally, of the establishment of God's 'Kingdom of Heaven' on earth, of what represents contemporaneously in terms of buildings and temples housing the administrative heart of the "changeless faith of God; eternal in the past, eternal in the future"? In traditional conceptions of metaphysics symbolism is part of the 'language' that represents the horizons and concepts related to a transpersonal state of knowledge and knowing; they were considered part of the 'scaffolding' or 'ladder' one can employ to attain unto certain knowledge and identity in God. In this sense there is nothing merely decorative about symbolism, if applied with certain kinds of religious cosmological and metaphysical associations in mind. Wouldn't that be the case in this instance?