Flower of Life

The Flower of Life is a name for a geometrical figure composed of multiple evenly-spaced, overlapping circles. This figure, used as a decorative motif since ancient times, forms a flower-like pattern with the symmetrical structure of a hexagon.

A "Flower of Life" figure consists of seven or more overlapping circles, in which the center of each circle is on the circumference of up to six surrounding circles of the same diameter. However, the surrounding circles need not be clearly or completely drawn; in fact, some ancient symbols that are claimed as examples of the Flower of Life contain only a single circle or hexagon.

Figures as prominent as Leonardo da Vinci^{[citation needed]} are said to have ascribed significance to the Flower of Life and three similar symbols, called the "Egg of Life," the "Fruit of Life," the "Seed of Life". Drunvalo Melchizedek, an author from the New Age movement, has called these figures symbols of sacred geometry, asserting that they represent ancient spiritual beliefs, and that they depict fundamental aspects of space and time.^[1]^[2] Melchizedek claims that Metatron's Cube may be derived from the Flower of Life pattern, and that the Platonic solids within it were "thought to act as a template from which all life springs."^[3]^[4]

The Flower of Life and the Seed of Life are linked by New Age authors with the Biblical prophet Enoch, the Archangel Metatron, the six days of Creation, the Vesica Piscis religious symbol, and Borromean rings.^[1][2

New Age writers associate the Flower of Life with symbols and decorative motifs from cultures throughout history.^{[citation needed]}

Assyria and Abydos

The Flower of Life symbol drawn in red ochre Temple of Osiris at Abydos, Egypt.

It was originally thought that the Temple of Osiris in Abydos, Egypt contained the oldest known examples of the Flower of Life.^{[citation needed]} It is now known that an earlier example of the pattern can be seen in the Assyrian rooms of the Louvre Museum in Paris. The design forms part of a gypsum or alabaster threshold step measuring 2.07 x 1.26 meters (6.8 x 4.1 feet) that originally existed in one of the palaces of King Ashurbanipal, and has been dated to c. 645 BC.^[5]

The Abydos examples from Egypt are also worthy of note. Despite claims that they are over 6,000 years old^[6]^[7] and may date back to as long ago as 10,500 BCE or earlier, recent research shows that these symbols can be no earlier than 535 BCE, and most probably date to the 2nd and 4th century CE, based on photographic evidence of Greek text, still to be fully deciphered, seen alongside the Flower of Life circles and the position of the circles close to the top of columns, which are over 4 meters in height.^[8] This suggests the Osirion was half filled with sand prior to the circles being drawn and therefore likely to have been well after the end of the Ptolemaic dynasty.^[8]

Possibly five Flower of Life patterns can be seen on one of the granite columns and a further five on a column opposite of the Osirion. The Flower of Life patterns are drawn in red ochre and some are very faint and hard to distinguish.^[8]

The "Seed of Life" is formed from seven circles being placed with sixfold symmetry, forming a pattern of circles and lenses, which act as a basic component of the Flower of Life's design.^[1]^[17]

The Seed of Life is a symbol supposed by the New Age community to depict the six days of creation in which the Judeo-Christian God created life; Genesis 2:2-3, Exodus 23:12, 31:16-17, Isaiah 56:6-8. The first day is believed to be the creation of the Vesica Piscis, then the creation of the Tripod of Life on the second day, followed by one sphere added for each subsequent day until all seven spheres construct the Seed of Life on the sixth day of Creation. The seventh day is the day of rest, known as the "Sabbath" or "Shabbat." ^[1]^[17]