An overlapping circles grid is a geometric pattern of repeating, overlapping circles of an equal radius in two-dimensional space. Commonly, designs are based on circles centered on triangles (with the simple, two circle form named vesica piscis) or on the square lattice pattern of points. Patterns of seven overlapping circles appear in historical artefacts from the 7th century BCE onward; they become a frequently used ornament in the Roman Empire period, and survive into medieval artistic traditions both in Islamic art (girih decorations) and in Gothic art. The name Flower of Life is given to the overlapping circles pattern in New Age publications. Of special interest is the hexafoil or six-petal rosette derived from the seven overlapping circles pattern, also known as the Sun of the Alps from its frequent use in alpine folk art in the 17th and 18th century.
Triangular grid of overlapping circles
The triangular lattice form, with circle radii equal to their separation is called a seven overlapping circles grid. It contains six circles intersecting at a point, with a seventh circle centered on that intersection. Overlapping circles with similar geometrical constructions have been used infrequently in various of the decorative arts since ancient times. The pattern has found a wide range of usage in popular culture, in fashion, jewelry, tattoos and decorative products.
Cultural significance
Near East The oldest known occurrence of the overlapping circles pattern is dated to the 7th or 6th century BCE, found on the threshold of the palace of Assyrian king Aššur-bāni-apli in Dur Šarrukin (now in the Louvre). The design became more widespread in the early centuries of the Common Era. One early example is a set of 5 patterns of 19 overlapping circles drawn on the granite columns at the Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt, and a further five on a column opposite the building. They are drawn in red ochre and some are very faint and difficult to distinguish. The patterns are graffiti, and not found in natively Egyptian ornaments. They are mostly dated to the early centuries CE although medieval or even modern (early 20th century) origin cannot be ruled out with certainty, as the drawings are not mentioned in the extensive listings of graffiti at the temple compiled by Margaret Murray in 1904. Similar patterns were sometimes used in England as apotropaic marks to keep witches from entering buildings. Consecration crosses indicating points in churches anointed with holy water during a church's dedication also take the form of overlapping circles.
In Islamic art, the pattern is one of several arrangements of circles (others being used for fourfold or fivefold designs) used to construct grids for Islamic geometric patterns. It is used to design patterns with 6- and 12-pointed stars as well as hexagons in the style called girih. The resulting patterns however characteristically conceal the construction grid, presenting instead a design of interlaced strapwork.
Europe Patterns of seven overlapping circles are found on Roman mosaics, for example at Herod's Palace in the 1st century BCE. The design is found on one of the silver plaques of the Late Roman hoard of Kaiseraugst (discovered 1961). It is later found as an ornament in Gothic architecture, and still later in European folk art of the early modern period. High medieval examples include the Cosmati pavements in Westminster Abbey (13th century). Leonardo da Vinci explicitly discussed the mathematical proportions of the design.
Modern usage
The name Flower of Life is modern, associated with the New Age movement, and commonly attributed specifically to Drunvalo Melchizedek in his book The Ancient Secret of the Flower of Life (1999). The pattern and modern name have propagated into wide range of usage in popular culture, in fashion, jewelry, tattoos, and decorative products. The pattern in quilting has been called the diamond wedding ring or triangle wedding ring to contrast it from the square pattern. Besides occasional use in fashion, it is also used in the decorative arts. For example, the album Sempiternal (2013) by Bring Me the Horizon uses the 61 overlapping circles grid as the main feature of its album cover, and the album A Head Full of Dreams (2015) by Coldplay features the 19 overlapping circles grid as the central part of its album cover. Teaser posters illustrating the cover art to A Head Full of Dreams were widely displayed on the London Underground in the last week of October 2015. The Sun of the Alps (Italian: Sole delle Alpi) symbol has been used as the emblem of Padanian nationalism in northern Italy since the 1990s. It resembles a pattern often found in that area on buildings. A seven-circle Flower of Life is also used in the coat of arms of Asgardia the space nation.
Gallery
1, 7, and 19-circle hexagonal variants In the examples below the pattern has a hexagonal outline, and is further circumscribed.
Similar patterns In the examples below, the pattern does not have a hexagonal outline:
Construction Martha Bartfeld, author of geometric art tutorial books, described her independent discovery of the design in 1968. Her original definition said, "This design consists of circles having a 1-[inch; 25 mm] radius, with each point of intersection serving as a new center. The design can be expanded ad infinitum depending upon the number of times the odd-numbered points are marked off." The figure can be drawn by pen and compass, by creating multiple series of interlinking circles of the same diameter touching the previous circle's center. The second circle is centered at any point on the first circle. All following circles are centered on the intersection of two other circles.
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