Norma: Difference between revisions

This constellation, Norma, 'the Carpenter's Square', and its adjoining constellation Circinus, 'Pair Of Compasses for drawing circles', might be taken as a pair. The two together are the emblems of masonry, and the symbol of Freemasonry. The words Norma and gnomon are from the same root *gno- 'To know'. The Greek word gnomon refers to two different objects; the pointer on a sundial, and also a carpenter's square or L-shaped bar. The stylus or gnomon of a sundial casts a shadow by which the time is indicated on the dial. The shape of an upright pointer and shadow together have a 90 degree-angle; as has carpenter's square. Pillars, columns, standing stones, or a stick stuck upright in the ground, serve the same shadow-making purpose as the gnomon or stylus.

Gnomon is the style of a sundial. Gnome is a word coined by the Swiss physician and alchemist Paracelsus (born 1493) for the elementals.<ref>[http://www.constellationsofwords.com/Constellations/Norma.htm Constellations of Words]</ref>

==References==