Octagons

What are the most striking architectural features of the Richmond Virginia temple?

I think most people will agree the spire (adorned with an angel), the front portico and the rear dome are the most unique features.

Spire or Steeple

Portico

Dome

The spire and the dome are both octagonal in shape. That is particularly apparent in this birds-eye view image.

Image from: STABO MEDIA

The front portico has 8 pillars in total. The four out front are obvious but if you look closely you can see there are four more pillars (technically called pilasters) built into the front wall of the temple. That is a total of eight.

So, all three of the most prominent features seem to be based on the number 8. Is there any spiritual significance to the number 8?

Yes!

Lots of numbers have symbolic meaning.

For example: 3 is symbolic of the Godhead: The Father, The Son and The Holy Ghost

12 is symbolic of Israel and priesthood: The 12 tribes of Israel, The 12 apostles

7 is symbolic of completeness or perfection: The earth was created in 7 days, 7 days of the week (Sabbath), Jesus taught to forgive seventy times seven

8 is connected to the symbolism of 7. If 7 is complete, then what would 8 indicate?

A new start.

It is strongly associated with the resurrection of Jesus.

Symbolic meanings of the number 8:

- A new start. Noah and his family were the only 8 survivors of the flood.

- In the Book of Mormon, 8 is associated with a journey to a promised land: Lehi’s family traveled 8 years in the wilderness, Alma the Elder’s people journeyed 8 days to a new land, Jaredites built 8 barges to cross the waters

- Baptism (born again) at age 8

- Jesus’ resurrection was on Sunday (the 8th day or 1st day of the new week), which is now called the Lord’s day, the Sabbath.

- The history of the priesthood has 7 major dispensations with 1. Adam, 2. Enoch, 3. Noah, 4. Abraham, 5. Moses, and 6. Jesus Christ. Now we are in the 7th, the dispensation of the restoration or the fullness of times. What will be number 8? The Second Coming of Jesus Christ and His Millennial Reign

So, the number eight and therefore the shape of the octagon are considered symbols of Jesus Christ, Himself.

- In Hebrew, the numbers and letters are the same. The 8th letter is chet ח derived from the Phoenician 𐤇 and it comes from a symbol that originally meant a courtyard or tent wall. In a temple context, this is without a doubt the veil of the temple. In the book of Hebrews we learn that Jesus is the veil of the temple. So again, the number 8 symbolizes Jesus, especially in His role as mediator between earth and heaven. Hebrews 10:20 "he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh"

Image from: Library of Congress

Other buildings use the octagon shape to symbolize rebirth or resurrection of Jesus Christ.

One of my favorite examples is the Baptistery of Florence.

Check out these images from the Richmond temple and see how many octagons you can spot.

The baptistry

The entry way

Detail of the sealing room

The grand staircase

Detail from the instruction room

Another detail from the instruction room

Celestial room

These octagons show up all over the Richmond Temple.

Many temples have recurring architectural motifs. This is a prominent example.

There is another deeper layer of meaning to the octagon symbol.

First let's look at a related temple symbol, the circle in the square:

Las Vegas Nevada Temple

The Circle in the Square

The circle represents the perfection of heaven. The square represents the earth. (As in the four corners of the earth.) The circle in the square is a symbolic representation of heaven on earth. Lots of other temples use this symbol.

So now consider this combination:

Circle - Octagon - Square

The square still represents the earth, the circle still represents heaven and the octagon represents the Savior. Just like the octagon is a transition from a square to a circle, Jesus Christ is the mediator between heaven and earth.

Look back at the temple octagons. How many of those are surrounded by a square (or rectangle) and also have a circle inside?

Hint: sometimes the square is the corners of the room, sometimes the circle is the center of a flower.

The Anastasis Church, Oia, Santorini, Greece: image from pickpik.com

It is a common architectural pattern to transition a square base to a round top with an octagon shape. In architecture this is called a tambour.

This is a symbol of Jesus Christ as our mediator. He is our means to transition from earth (square base) to heaven (round dome).

Take a closer look at the spire of the Richmond temple.

It clearly sits on a square base. (This represents earth.)

The tip or finial of the spire is a gold sphere with an angel. (This represents heaven.)

The spire itself is an octagon all the way up. It literally points us to heaven. It symbolically connects earth to heaven.

This is a symbol of Jesus Christ and His role as your mediator, your advocate, your intercessor.

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