Newton's studies of the Temple of Solomon[edit]

Isaac Newton's diagram of part of the Temple of Solomon, taken from Plate 1 of The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended (published London, 1728)

Newton extensively studied and wrote about the Temple of Solomon, dedicating an entire chapter of The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended to his observations of the temple. Newton's primary source for information was the description of the structure given within 1 Kings of the Hebrew Bible, which he translated himself from Hebrew.^[19]

In addition to scripture, Newton also relied upon various ancient and contemporary sources while studying the temple. He believed that many ancient sources were endowed with sacred wisdom^[6] and that the proportions of many of their temples were in themselves sacred. This belief would lead Newton to examine many architectural works of Hellenistic Greece, as well as Roman sources such as Vitruvius, in a search for their occult knowledge. This concept, often termed prisca sapientia (sacred wisdom and also the ancient wisdom that was revealed to Adam and Moses directly by God), was a common belief of many scholars during Newton's lifetime.^[20]

A more contemporary source for Newton's studies of the temple was Juan Bautista Villalpando, who just a few decades earlier had published an influential manuscript entitled Ezechielem Explanationes, in which Villalpando comments on the visions of the biblical prophet Ezekiel, including within this work his own interpretations and elaborate reconstructions of Solomon's Temple. In its time, Villalpando's work on the temple produced a great deal of interest throughout Europe and had a significant impact upon later architects and scholars.^[21][22]

As a Bible scholar, Newton was initially interested in the sacred geometry of Solomon's Temple, such as golden sections, conic sections, spirals, orthographic projection, and other harmonious constructions, but he also believed that the dimensions and proportions represented more. He noted that the temple's measurements given in the Bible are mathematical problems, related to solutions for {displaystyle pi } and the volume of a hemisphere, {displaystyle V=(2/3)pi r^{3}}, and in a larger sense that they were references to the size of the Earth and man's place and proportion to it.^{[citation needed]}

Newton believed that the temple was designed by King Solomon with privileged eyes and divine guidance. To Newton, the geometry of the temple represented more than a mathematical blueprint, it also provided a time-frame chronology of Hebrew history.^[23] It was for this reason that he included a chapter devoted to the temple within The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended, a section which initially may seem unrelated to the historical nature of the book as a whole.

Newton felt that just as the writings of ancient philosophers, scholars, and Biblical figures contained within them unknown sacred wisdom, the same was true of their architecture. He believed that these men had hidden their knowledge in a complex code of symbolic and mathematical language that, when deciphered, would reveal an unknown knowledge of how nature works.^[20]

In 1675 Newton annotated a copy of Manna – a disquisition of the nature of alchemy, an anonymous treatise which had been given to him by his fellow scholar Ezekiel Foxcroft. In his annotation Newton reflected upon his reasons for examining Solomon's Temple by writing:

This philosophy, both speculative and active, is not only to be found in the volume of nature, but also in the sacred scriptures, as in Genesis, Job, Psalms, Isaiah and others. In the knowledge of this philosophy, God made Solomon the greatest philosopher in the world.^[23]

During Newton's lifetime, there was great interest in the Temple of Solomon in Europe, due to the success of Villalpando's publications, and augmented by a vogue for detailed engravings and physical models presented in various galleries for public viewing. In 1628, Judah Leon Templo produced a model of the temple and surrounding Jerusalem, which was popular in its day. Around 1692, Gerhard Schott produced a highly detailed model of the temple for use in an opera in Hamburg composed by Christian Heinrich Postel. This immense 13-foot-high (4.0 m) and 80-foot-around (24 m) model was later sold in 1725 and was exhibited in London as early as 1723, and then later temporarily installed at the London Royal Exchange from 1729 to 1730, where it could be viewed for half-a-crown. Isaac Newton's most comprehensive work on the temple, found within The Chronology of Ancient Kingdoms Amended, was published posthumously in 1728, only adding to the public interest in the temple.^[24]

Asunción, Paraguay

Any visitor to Paraguay’s capital city will remember the city’s iconic architecture and buildings, such as the Lopez Presidential Palace – the city is one of the oldest in South America.  But don’t forget those damn seven hills – they’re everywhere these days!   The hills here are gentle and so harder to spot, but a few of them include Cabará,  Cerro Lambaré, Clavel, Tarumá, Cachinga, and Tacumbú.

Dunedin, New Zealand

One of the more remote seven hill cities in our list, Dunedin doesn’t have hills – they mean serious business.  One hill has a slope of concrete called Baldwin street running down it, making it the steepest street in the world.  These are former volcanic crags, and some of the more famous are Mount Cargill, Flagstaff Hill, Saddle Hill, Signal Hill, and Harbour Cone.

Brussels, Belgium

St.Michielsberg, Koudenberg, Warmoesberg, Kruidtuin, Kunstberg, Zavel and St.Pietersberg make up what they say are the seven hills of Brussels.  It’s the capital of Belgium, and often overlooked for places like Ghent.  Last year I went to Brussel’s defence, saying it is one of the nicest capital cities in Europe.  So check it out if you can.

Istanbul, Turkey

Istanbul looks to be cheating the city of seven hills system, because they aren’t counting peaks (there’d be more than seven) – they just count elevated areas.  The hills are all located within the old walls of the city.  But since Donna raved about her sightseeing in Turkey, we’ll give them benefit of the doubt.

Mecca, Saudia Arabia

The center of the Muslim world and one of it’s most important sites, Mecca in Saudia Arabia isn’t built on seven hills but in the center of them.  The hills are Jabal abu Siba’ , Jabal Safa, Jabal Marwah, Jabal abu Milhah, Jabal abu Ma’aya, Jabal abu Hulayah, and Jabal abu Ghuzlan.  You can explore the hills if you want, but if you are not Muslim you cannot enter the city.

Nevada City, California USA

Known more for it’s famous professional cycling race and it’s historic architecture than seven hills, Nevada City also lays claim to the seven status.  I love the names of them: Piety, Lost, Prospect, Aristocracy, Boulder, Nabob, and Buckeye Hills.

Tirumala, India

There are few if any cities of seven hills in Asia, with the exception of India.  Tirumala takes the cake not only for it’s foundations on seven hills but on one of those hills is the Temple of Seven Hills, Tirumala Venkateswara.  This temple is claimed to be the busiest place of worship in the world, with over 100k pilgrims visiting it every day and over half a million per day during the holy festival.

Jerusalem, Israel

Adding to the mystique of the city of seven hills phenomenon is Jerusalem.  An important religious center for many sects, it too sits on seven hills, but given the messy business that is this part of the world, and considering the various changes to the landscape over centuries,  it’s somewhat complicated to explain what the seven would be.

Lisbon, Portugal

Part of the Lisbon sightseeing experience is the charming views that seem to pop up around every corner. São Jorge, São Vicente, Sant’Ana, Santo André, Chagas, Santa Catarina, São Roque and the seven hills; be sure to check out our list of the best restaurants in Lisbon, as several of them have views from each of these hills.

Bamberg, Germany

Bamberg is cute little town in Germany, mostly well known by tourists for its charming atmosphere and architecture as well as it’s beer.  But it’s also a seven hills contender, including Cathedral Hill, Michaelsberg, Kaulberg/Obere Pfarre, Stefansberg, Jakobsberg, Altenburger Hill, and Abtsberg.

Kampala, Uganda

Last by certainly not least of our 17 cities of 7 hills is Uganda’s, Mengo, Lubaga, Namirembe, Old Kampala, Kibuli, Nakasero and Makerere.  It was the hills that made this spot popular, as the surrounding area was wetlands, so the hills provided a good position for hunting.  Today there are more than seven hills as the city has expanded into various areas beyond the original city.

Where in the world is your favourite ‘city of seven hills’?