Cornerstone

For other uses, see Cornerstone (disambiguation).

It has been suggested that Foundation stone be merged into this article or section. (Discuss)

Look up cornerstone in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

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 four times in the New Testament (Mt 21:42,Mk 12:10, Act 4:11 and 1Pe 2:7) which portrays a cornerstone as the quintessence of irony. (Catholic Encyclopedia article)

A cornerstone is also a concept which provides the basic tools for understanding or manipulating a larger intellectual edifice.

Categories

Find

Find