From Pentagram to Pyramid
The House of the Temple In his book "The Secret Architecture of our Nation's Capital", David Ovason suggests that "in spite of the insistence on Egyptan themes within Washington, D.C. - the pyramid has been marginalized" (page 220); and while discussing the US Great Seal, he recommends that, "the sacred pyramid would have been a more satisfactory symbol for the city, and for the United States itself, than the predatory bird which did eventually take pride of place". He continues, "For all their intrinsic importance and beauty, while the eagle is everywhere in the city, the pyramid is obscured." (p 225) Suggesting "a conspiracy of silence" he speculates that "there was some intention on the part of interested officials to ensure that the pyramid did not play an important part in the conscious symbolism of Washington, D.C.". (p 225) "The only architectural pyramid", he says, "in Washington, D.C., which seems to reflect the seal pyramid is distinctly Masonic." Here he speaks of "the great tower of the House of the Temple, at 1733 16th Street (which) consists of a truncated pyramid" (p 223) that has been the headquarters of the Southern Jourisdiction of the Scottish Rites Masons since 1915. Designed by the distinguished architect John Russell Pope (who also designed the Jefferson Memorial, the National Archives Building and Union Station in D.C.), the building is an adaptation of the famous Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World", and features a truncated, 13 step pyramid at the top. The image below shows the location of the House of the Temple, north of the White House. The SJSR Masons moved here from Charleston SC at 33 degrees north after the War Between the States. Note that the building was not postioned at the juncture of 16th Street and New Hampshire, the peak of the triangle (pyramid), but was built below that, such that a horizontal line there truncates the map pyramid. So, the HOT, like the pyramid on the back of the dollar bill, has a trucated top, and is located at the top of a truncated pyramid in the DC map layout. Bent Pyramid The building has it's entrance on the west side, where it opens onto 16th Street. Most pyramids in Egypt have their entrance on the north side. The only pyramid known to have an entrance on it's west side, is the "bent" pyramid at Dashur, which changes pitch half way up. We are told that the cross-section of the top half of this pyramid has 43.5 degree base angles, as with the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, but if you know anything about geometry, masonry or the building trades, you would likely suggest that it is a 45 degree angle. The Master Mason's Square is equal armed, just like the 45-45-90 triangle, which is about the same as we see on the HOT. Take another look at the side view of the HOT and notice how the main structure changes pitch. The next image shows the bent pyramid superimposed on the House of the Temple. Continue

From Pentagram to Pyramid

The House of the Temple
In his book "The Secret Architecture of our Nation's Capital", David Ovason suggests that "in spite of the insistence on Egyptan themes within Washington, D.C. - the pyramid has been marginalized" (page 220); and while discussing the US Great Seal, he recommends that, "the sacred pyramid would have been a more satisfactory symbol for the city, and for the United States itself, than the predatory bird which did eventually take pride of place". He continues, "For all their intrinsic importance and beauty, while the eagle is everywhere in the city, the pyramid is obscured." (p 225)
Suggesting "a conspiracy of silence" he speculates that "there was some intention on the part of interested officials to ensure that the pyramid did not play an important part in the conscious symbolism of Washington, D.C.". (p 225)
"The only architectural pyramid", he says, "in Washington, D.C., which seems to reflect the seal pyramid is distinctly Masonic." Here he speaks of "the great tower of the House of the Temple, at 1733 16th Street (which) consists of a truncated pyramid" (p 223) that has been the headquarters of the Southern Jourisdiction of the Scottish Rites Masons since 1915.

Designed by the distinguished architect John Russell Pope (who also designed the Jefferson Memorial, the National Archives Building and Union Station in D.C.), the building is an adaptation of the famous Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the "Seven Wonders of the Ancient World", and features a truncated, 13 step pyramid at the top.

The image below shows the location of the House of the Temple, north of the White House. The SJSR Masons moved here from Charleston SC at 33 degrees north after the War Between the States. Note that the building was not postioned at the juncture of 16th Street and New Hampshire, the peak of the triangle (pyramid), but was built below that, such that a horizontal line there truncates the map pyramid. So, the HOT, like the pyramid on the back of the dollar bill, has a trucated top, and is located at the top of a truncated pyramid in the DC map layout.

Bent Pyramid
The building has it's entrance on the west side, where it opens onto 16th Street. Most pyramids in Egypt have their entrance on the north side. The only pyramid known to have an entrance on it's west side, is the "bent" pyramid at Dashur, which changes pitch half way up.

We are told that the cross-section of the top half of this pyramid has 43.5 degree base angles, as with the Pyramid of the Sun in Mexico, but if you know anything about geometry, masonry or the building trades, you would likely suggest that it is a 45 degree angle. The Master Mason's Square is equal armed, just like the 45-45-90 triangle, which is about the same as we see on the HOT.

Take another look at the side view of the HOT and notice how the main structure changes pitch.

The next image shows the bent pyramid superimposed on the House of the Temple.

Continue