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Cornerstone
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
A cornerstone is a ceremonial masonry stone, or facsimile, set in a prominent location on the outside of a building, with an inscription on the stone indicating the construction dates of the building and the names of architect, builder and other significant individuals. The ceremony of laying a cornerstone is an important cultural component of western architecture (See also foundation stone).
Some cornerstones include time capsules from the time a particular building was built. The origins of this tradition are vague but its presence in Judeo-Christian countries can be associated with one quotation from the Old Testament (Ps 118:22) cited five times in the New Testament (Mt 21:42,Mk 12:10, Luke 20:17, Act 4:11 and 1Pe 2:7) which portrays a cornerstone as the quintessence of irony. (Catholic Encyclopedia article)
The cornerstone concept is derived from the first stone set in the construction of a masonry foundation, important since all other stones will be set in reference to this stone, thus determining the position of the entire edifice.
A cornerstone is also a concept which provides the basic tools for understanding or manipulating a larger intellectual edifice.
- See also: Golden spike
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