Studia Islandica - 01.07.1966, Blaðsíða 32
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3. THE REVOLVENG BUILDING
Descriptions of revolving buildings are widespread in
medieval European literature, and are found in Greek,
French, English, Welsh, and Irish literature. They belong
to a very ancient tradition going back to classical times,
probably derived partly from actual descriptions of Byzan-
tine palaces.1 Ovid’s description of the palace of the sun
(Metamorphoses book II, 1 ff.) is clearly part of this tradi-
tion, and other examples are found in late Greek romances
that are also probably derived from classical models. The
distinctive characteristics of this tradition, apart from the
general splendour of the building, are:
1. The mathematical symmetry of the building.
2. Decorations representing the whole of creation,
from the sky with birds to the earth with all hving
creatures on it and the sea with sea creatures.
3. Pronounced astrological connections (signs of the
zodiac, planets, &c.).
At some time during its development the tradition ac-
quired a further motive:
4. The building is cunningly constructed so that it
revolves.
In some stories containing a description of such a build-
ing it is associated with another narrative element:
5. The visitors to the building indulge in elaborate
boasts or vows.
The first three of these motives are present already in
Ovid’s description of the palace of the sun. This palace has
tall pillars and is richly adorned with gold and jewels. There
are decorations depicting the sky, the earth, and the sea,
1 See Margaret Schlauch, “The Palace of Hugon de Constantinople,”
Speculum VII (1932), pp. 500—514.