The Fibonacci Rectangles in Lalibela and Their Significance for the Reconstruction of the Vanished Cathedral of Aksum

The Lalibela rock-hewn churches have been characterized as examples of the equal-equal proportioning system. This paper advances the characterization through the medieval royal camping traditions and what are now called Fibonacci Rectangles. The study is based on geometrical analyses of seven photogrammetrically rendered orthogonal views from three selected structures. The overlay analysis compared an ideal geometric system to inherently inexact artifacts. Accordingly, the comparison was tested against a literary architectural proportioning system mentioned in the medieval Book of Aksum, and a schematic site plan of the vanished Aksum cathedral was thus reconstructed as an antithesis. There appears to be an intention by the medieval designers to have adhered to patterns of concentric circles and rectangles in the Fibonacci sequence. The patterns appear to radiate from the centers of the façades and from the main entrances as well, suggesting a solar system based cosmological symbolism.