the circle and the crosshairs

this little book illustrates the global use of a timeless architectural form: the circle and the crosshairs.  from china to mexico, history shows us beautiful examples of urban planning and structures boldly marking the landscape like cosmic diagrams of power and importance.  whether it's the defensive layout of a roman city or the meditative path of a buddist stupa, we feel the intention and importance of an intersected circle.  diverse cultures have used this spatial geometry to express the movement of time, the cycle of stars, the center of the world and the intersection of heaven and earth.  

images taken from A Global History of Architecture by Francis D.K. Ching, Mark Jarzombek & Vikramaditya Prakash