Architecture
The foundation stone was laid on St. Matthew's Day, 21st September 1446. The orientation is due East and West, marked out by the solar ray, according to the ancient tradition. A geometrical figure is usually used to regulate the proportions, and a double equilateral triangle is used in Rosslyn.
Unfortunately the original plans for Rosslyn have never been found or recorded, so it is open to speculation whether or not the chapel was intended to be built in its current layout. The fact the foundations for a much larger nave were excavated in the nineteenth century and can be seen today suggest grander plans were made for the chapel at its inauguration. The chapel as seen now is therefore what would have been the choir as the larger nave was never built. However as it stands today Rosslyn's asymmetry is just one of the many unique architectural features.
The height of the chapel is 40 feet 8 inches, breadth 34 feet 8 inches, length 68 feet. There are thirty-two different forms of arch throughout the chapel. The horizontal arch over the aisles, connecting the pillars with the wall, is hollow stone hung with the aid of small iron rods onto a central wooden beam.
The famous 'Apprentice Pillar' or 'Prentice Pillar', also referred to in 'An account of the chapel of Roslin' (1778) as the 'Princes Pillar'. On the architrave joining the pillar, the words in latin mean 'Wine is strong a King is stronger, women are stronger still but truth conquers all' the text which comes from the book of Esdras, Chapters 3 & 4.
Visitors also learn of the story of the master mason who was carving it and who was unable to complete his work, so journeyed to Rome to receive further guidance on its completion. However, on his return he found that the pillar had already been completed in his absence by the his apprentice... In his fury the master mason killed the young apprentice, and so the pillar was named. On the pillar itself are many fleur-de-lys, and also the cusping of the roof suggests that masons from Strasbourg, France undertook some of the work within Rosslyn. The fleur-de-lys is also symbolic of the iris and lily, both of which represent The Virgin Mary. The fleur-de-lys is also long been associated with royalty, in particular with the Royal House of France.
On the three pillars standing between the East aisle and the East chapel is a choir of thirteen angels with musical instruments, representing the host of God. On the ribs of the groins (intersections) on the north and south sides are representations of various occupations in life, also referred to as the 'Dance of Death'. On some of the other pillars are a series of carvings showing Issac on the altar with the ram caught by the horns, Abraham looking towards his son, Samson destroying the Philistine lords, David killing the lion, the Prodigal son, the Crucifixion and a stone that depicts the history of the Roslin Family. Also of interest are the masons' marks on the individual stones, the use of which was rare even at the time of building.
Just one more thing which makes Rosslyn Chapel unique.
The arched stone roof is finely decorated in squares with five pointed stars, ball flowers, tablet flowers, roses, and a dove with an olive branch.
