The Wise and Foolish Virgins Photo

Photographer’s Note

These reliefs are on top of the Standard Life buildings in George Street.

It shows the Wise and Foolish Virgins. The five wise virgins are looking towards the five sided magic square

S A T O R
A R E P O
T E N E T
O P E R A
R O T A S

This reads the same top to bottom, bottom to top, left to right or right to left. It is translated as either "The sower Arepo holds the wheels with effort" or "The sower Arepo leads with his hand the plough".

The possible overall meaning is that the wise virgins would look after their future by having Life Assurance policies with Standard Life, while the foolish ones would not?

The sculptor of the bronze relief was Gerald Laing.

Info from:

EdinPhoto

Wikipedia - Sator Square

All this - just 'cause I liked the reliefs.

This is two separate photos, in reality the relief is one long section at the top of the building. It was built in 1975.

feather has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

feather (49858) 2009-03-17 8:32

I hadn't spotted that there were two images together (DOH!) It's a good job I always read the notes. I wonder what those life policies are worth now. Maybe the Foolish Virgins made the wisest choice after all! :D Unusual and interesting post.
Kath

windosil (768) 2009-05-30 4:04

Very nice one, Alastair. Like Kath, I had not spotted there were 2 photos, the whole is a pleasant study in greys and browns, lines, angles and bumpy bits.
Interesting that there is only one way to be wise, many ways to be foolish.
Walk wisely,
Winifred
PS Were you cycling from the harbour on Saturday afternoon? We decided it was not your doppelganger.