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Anna Esten
Professor Beyer
Keys to Angels and Demons
21 October 2009
The Circumpunct and The Lost Symbol
The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown is a book filled with fascinating information presented in
a very interesting manner. Despite the overload of what seem to be facts, Brown still leaves a
variety of gaps in his details and also makes a few mistakes along the way. Whether these
mistakes and voids were created on purpose to facilitate the story, or they were merely
overlooked by the author, The Lost Symbol frequently leaves a lot to be desired, and in turn
raises an array of questions.
One interesting aspect of The Lost Symbol was the development and usage of the symbol
the circumpunct, which is actually more commonly referred to as “the circle with the dot in the
middle.” This fairly simple symbol, shown here,
really is nothing more than a dot in the
center of a circle (Symbols.com). However, over the years it has come to represent a variety of
different things in many different cultures. It also plays a significant role in The Lost Symbol,
driving a key plotline as well as appearing at various times throughout the novel in different
ways. A deeper understanding of the novel requires an exploration of the evolution of this
symbol throughout history and how it has been utilized and adopted by various groups of people.
There were an assortment of references to the circumpunct in the novel, from simply the
symbol itself, to others such as a variety of elements of Washington D.C. architecture that
display this shape. Brown says, “in the idiom of symbology, there was one symbol that reigned
supreme above all others. The oldest and most universal, this symbol fused all the ancient
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traditions in a single solitary image that represented the illumination…. the circumpunct” (459).
This description of the circumpunct leads the reader to believe that there should be an extensive
as well as intensive history of the origin of this symbol, and that the circumpunct is well known
as the symbol of all symbols. The fact is however, that although the circumpunct has been used
as a symbol for a variety of things throughout history, it is neither as famous nor as all
encompassing as Brown’s elaborate prose makes it out to be.
Although the circumpunct has developed many meanings throughout history, the
majority of these associations have had a direct relation to the sun. The circumpunct is one of the
original sun symbols, and even today it is still used as both an astronomical and astrological
symbol for the sun. There have been various other sun symbols, including the ideogram
which is a four pointed star, the three leg
, and the swastika
,
, but the circumpunct is by far
the most widely recognized in reference to the sun. Its earliest recorded usage as a sun symbol
was in the period of Ancient Egypt, where it was used to represent the sun god Re, (also known
as Ra) who was a prominent figure in Egyptian worship (Symbols.com). Ancient Egyptians
focused their worship on two entities, the sun and the Nile River. Beliefs about the sun were
widespread and highly regarded, and the symbolism for them would have been well known by
the masses (Lurker). Hieroglyphs prove the existence and commonality of this symbol in Ancient
Egyptian culture. Their sun disk is known to us today as the circumpunct, and the combination of
the sun disk with a vertical line underneath was the hieroglyph that was used to mean “the sun.”
The combination of this hieroglyph with the hieroglyph for god was used to write sun god, or Ra.
One of the most famous Egyptian symbols, the Eye of Ra, (also know as the Eye of Horus, Eye
of the Moon, and the Wedjat) has a direct correlation with the circumpunct. This symbol,
depicted on drawings of Ra as his right eye, was representative of the actual sun itself as a part of
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the sun god. In this symbol, there is no actual circumpunct, but there is
a teardrop shape for the outside of the eye with a perfect circle in the
center as a pupil. Even with the differences it is clear that this basic
Eye of Ra
shape was used to denote the sun and that it played a major role in the
spiritual lives of the Ancient Egyptians (“Ra”).
Another primary usage for the circumpunct also dates back as far as Ancient Egypt. In
alchemy, the science of attempting to achieve ultimate wisdom and immortality, the circumpunct
was used as a symbol for gold, one of the most important elements of the science. The focus of
alchemical practices was to transform common metals into either silver or gold, which they
hoped would lead to the discovery of the elixir of life and give alchemists the ability to prolong
life indefinitely (Cockren). The existence of this symbol both for gold and as a sun symbol is
perfectly sensible, as the color of gold was often associated with the luminosity of the sun in the
past. In fact, the Latin word for gold is “aurum,” which comes from the Greek word “Aurora,”
meaning the golden god or goddess of dawn. This is also the root for the English word “aura,” a
word associated with radiance, namely the radiance of the sun (“Solar Symbols, Ancient and
Modern”). In modern science, John Dalton, an early 19th century chemist, developed his atomic
theory, which assisted in defining the atom as well as grouping and classifying the elements that
had been discovered up to that point in history. Dalton also created his own periodic table, which
included the circumpunct as the symbol for hydrogen (“John Dalton”). The sun is primarily
composed of hydrogen (almost ¾), proving that the circumpunct continued to survive as a
symbol of the sun throughout scientific history.
Perhaps the most important aspect of the circumpunct to look into in regards to The Lost
Symbol is its history as a component of the brotherhood of the Freemasons. Symbolism serves as
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an integral part of the society of the Freemasons, and the circumpunct is just one of the many
symbols used in an attempt to guide the brothers toward enlightenment. In fact, the Grand
Masonic Lodge of Maine uses a circumpunct as a prominent part
of their symbol for Masonic Education Services. L.C. Addison II, a
member of the Masonic Montgomery Lodge #258, writes that the
circumpunct represents circumambulation, the act of moving
around a sacred object. Addison explains that the dot in the center
of the circle is meant to represent The Holy Bible, which is what
Brown claims is the Masonic “Lost Word” in his novel. The circle
Grand Lodge of Maine
represents life’s journey, and by centering that journey around The Holy Bible, or the ultimate
knowledge and guide, Masons can come “full circle” in an attempt to reach the perfection that
was given to them by God with the creation of Adam. Because man lost that perfection through
sin, it is only through the guidance of The Bible at the center of their lives that man can return to,
or get as close as possible to that state of perfection (Addison).
The influence of the circumpunct on symbolism can also be seen in the evolution of the
Rose Cross. The Rose Cross is one of the most prominent Masonic symbols, and also plays a
significant role in The Lost Symbol. When Robert Langdon and Katherine Solomon are on their
search to decipher the Masonic pyramid, they are given a substantial clue from Dean Galloway, a
very highly ranked Mason in the novel. Galloway, who is blind, points out the existence of a
raised dot on the bottom of the stone cube that held the pyramid’s capstone, which creates a
circumpunct on a person’s finger when it is touched. The pair then discovers that by placing
Peter Solomon’s Masonic ring on the raised dot and rotating it 33 degrees, the cube changes.
Each of the walls of the cube becomes detached from the base, and when laid flat they create the
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shape of a cross, with the circumpunct located in the center. The symbol that is created is called
the Rose Cross, and is the fusion of two symbols: the cross, or the rose, and the circumpunct
(Brown). The Knights of the Rose Cross is actually a degree of Freemasonry within the Scottish
Rite, and the creation of the symbol leads Langdon and Solomon to realize that they must look
toward the work of Isaac Newton, who was very knowledgeable about Rosicrucianism.
Rosicrucians, who believed strongly in the power of the symbol of the Rose Cross, also believed
in the existence of a set of ancient wisdom and claimed that their order was “built on esoteric
truths of the ancient past.” Today, the Rose Cross is depicted as a much more elaborate symbol
that includes various artistic illustrations and often color, but it began with the simple
combination of a cross, and the circumpunct (Symbols.com).
In the present day, the circumpunct is still widely used as a symbol. At times it is still
used to represent the sun, and it would surely still be used in alchemy if that had not fallen out of
fashion, but it is also used to denote much simpler things in everyday life. Based on common
sense, the circle with the dot in the middle is now often used to denote the existence of a center.
In mapmaking and in the drawing of blueprints, this symbol is used to show where the middle of
something is located, and is also used on some European street signs to denote a city center. On
nautical charts, which are often used by seafarers to keep track of buildings or other entities in
the water that they would want to avoid, the circumpunct is used to show high structures which
are visible from the sea, such as lighthouses and towers (Symbols.com).
Although the circumpunct has indeed been featured in a myriad of civilizations, both past
and present, it has never had as much weight on culture as it had in Ancient Egypt, and has never
been as significant to the scientific world as it was during the period when alchemy was popular.
The circumpunct, or as it would have been called, the circle with the dot in the middle, does
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indeed have an important place in spiritual and scientific history, but it is by no means a
“universal symbol for God” as claimed by Brown in The Lost Symbol.
The circumpunct is clearly utilized as a motif in Brown’s novel, as it recurs many times
in many different ways. The simplicity of the circumpunct provides Brown with a lot of
versatility throughout the novel. On many occasions Brown directly mentions the circumpunct
while at other times referencing a variety of things of the same shape, without specifically
identifying them as circumpuncts. This usage of the symbol in the novel has a direct correlation
to the article written by Addison and his references to circumambulation and “coming full
circle.” Like the two aspects of the circumpunct itself, Brown uses and reuses this symbol to both
help his plot come full circle from beginning to end, as well as to give it a point, or something to
center around as it develops. Other than straightforward mentions of the symbol itself, a few of
which have already been discussed, Brown also references the circumpunct in conjunction with
Mal’akh: the antagonist in the novel, the Hand of Mysteries, as well as multitude of architectural
aspects of the city and buildings of Washington, D.C.
Mal’akh, the character on a wild hunt for the actual lost symbol, bears a physical
manifestation of the circumpunct throughout the novel. In preparation for his quest, Mal’akh first
became a Mason and was inducted into the 33rd degree, which is the highest degree in
Freemasonry. After posing as a psychiatrist and befriending fellow 33rd degree member Peter
Solomon, Mal’akh was able to confirm that what he thought was the lost symbol actually
existed, and began to go to great lengths to discover it. Besides his practical preparations for the
task at hand, Mal’akh was also preparing his body to become the ultimate sacrifice, which
included fasting, shaving his entire body, and most outrageously, tattooing nearly every inch of
his skin with various symbols. The sole part of his body that was temporarily exempt from being
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inked was a small circle on the top of his head (Brown). This area is the one that is referred to as
the “soft spot” on babies’ heads at birth, and is called the fontanel in the medical world, which
originates from the French “fontaine” meaning “fountain.” It is significant because it is the only
space on a newborn’s head where the cartilage has yet to harden into bone, and so it is the one
spot where the brain is vulnerable and unprotected (“Fontanel”). Mal’akh refers to this circle as a
sacred spot. Intending to discover the lost symbol that night, Mal’akh plans on tattooing it to this
space in order to complete his bodily masterpiece, which will indicate his journey to perfection
coming full circle. Ironically, Peter Solomon falsely tells Mal’akh that the lost symbol is in fact
the circumpunct, leading Mal’akh to tattoo the actual symbol into the already perfectly shaped
space. It is not until later that Peter Solomon reveals that the circumpunct is not the real lost
symbol, but it is irrefutable that it plays an important role in the character development of
Mal’akh.
Another reference made to the circumpunct that was shown in a bodily manifestation was
on the Hand of Mysteries. When Langdon entered the U.S. Capitol Building through the visitor’s
entrance he received an ominous phone call from Mal’akh, informing him that he would soon
know why he was brought there. It was at that point that Langdon went toward the Capitol
Rotunda where chaos had begun to ensue. In the center of the circular room there was a human
hand on the floor, which turned out to be Peter Solomon’s right hand. Langdon points out that
the hand is a symbol known as the Hand of Mysteries, which has been used for centuries as an
invitation to “receive secret knowledge [or] protected wisdom” (Brown 69). First of all, the set
up of the room with the hand at the center of the circular area creates its own circumpunct shape.
Additionally, the Hand of Mysteries has a set of symbols tattooed on it. Traditionally, each
fingertip in the hand bears its own symbol. From the pinky to the thumb, each tip is marked with
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a key, a lantern, a sun, a star, and a crown, respectively. The circumpunct, which has historically
symbolized both the sun and the existence of a center, serves as both here. The middle finger has
what is assumed to be a modern and simple sun symbol tattooed on it, which would likely
include a circle. Although this sun symbol is probably different from the circumpunct, it is an
early reference to the importance of symbolism and its evolution throughout history, and
throughout the novel. Also, the symbol’s placement on the middle finger is important because its
central location also alludes to a significant part of the circumpunct’s history.
One of the recurring references to the circumpunct in The Lost Symbol is the use of the
word “oculus” and the existence of oculi in the roofs of buildings. Oculus, which is Latin for
“eye,” is a reference in construction and architecture to a round opening in the roof of a building.
The original oculus is said to be the one that is in the roof of the Pantheon in Rome, which
incidentally was a prime feature of Brown’s first novel, Angels & Demons. The Pantheon’s
oculus has always been open regardless of weather, and drains are used to empty the water from
the building. Typically, oculi are placed in the center of domed roofs rather than flat ones. The
structure is called an oculus because it resembles an eye and is often referred to as an eye to
heaven or an eye to God, and therefore exists as a sort of passageway between two things
(“Oculus”). In fact, in The Lost Symbol, Mal’akh actually refers to the blank space on his head as
an “oculus to the brain” (Brown 269). Of course, the small opening in the large dome very
closely resembles the shape of a circumpunct, which has spiritual connotations just like the oculi.
In the prologue of The Lost Symbol, the first oculus reference occurs when Mal’akh finds himself
in The Temple Room of a Masonic Lodge in Washington, D.C. as he undergoes his initiation
into the 33rd degree of the Masons. The only source of light in the room besides a few candles
was the moonlight shining through the oculus in the ceiling. Although Freemasonry does not
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advocate a specific religion, some belief in a higher being is required to be a member, so the
presence of an oculus in such an important Masonic room is logical. Toward the end of the
novel, a cycle becomes complete when Mal’akh finds himself in the same room with the same
oculus, but this time with Peter Solomon and the intentions of discovering the lost symbol and
fully completing his journey (Brown). The repetition of the circumpunct as a symbol would be
meaningful enough, but the repetition of the same circumpunct, or the same oculus, is even more
powerfully indicative of coming full circle and reaching an end.
Throughout the city of Washington D.C., there are a variety of other architectural
circumpuncts that are referenced at different parts of The Lost Symbol. In addition to the
circumpunct that was created by placing the Hand of Mysteries in the center of the Capitol
Rotunda, there already existed a circumpunct on its own in that room. In the center of the floor
there is a circle of iron nubs where there at one time existed a hole in the floor that went deep
into the basement of the Capitol building. At the bottom of this hole a torch used to burn 24
hours a day in the Capitol and was meant to symbolize America’s eternal flame.
In the Library of Congress’ famous reading room, everything is arranged in the shape of a
circumpunct. Known as one of the most beautiful rooms in the United States, if not the world,
the Reading Room is a large room where the desks used to study at are arranged in three
concentric circles. Especially for members of government, but also for scholars from all over the
United States, the Library of Congress is certainly considered an exceptional place to acquire
knowledge and it is interesting that the desks in such a renowned room would be positioned this
way.
The final two circumpunct references in the D.C. architecture in The Lost Symbol are
references to Dupont Circle and the Washington Monument. Dupont Circle is a traffic circle in
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the Northwestern portion of Washington D.C. and is part of the “Old City,” which is the portion
designed by Pierre Charles L’Enfant. The area
surrounding the circle consists of many different
buildings including row houses, hotels, and
embassies, but in the center there is a park that is
maintained by the National Park Service
(“Dupont Circle”). From an aerial view, this
circle certainly stands out from the surrounding
Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
roads and buildings and clearly appears to be in the shape
of a circumpunct. Additionally, the Washington Monument, which has a whole host of its own
symbolism and significance as an obelisk, is actually placed in the middle of two concentric
stone circles, making the point on the top of the obelisk the point of the circumpunct that would
be seen from above the monument.
Indisputably, the circumpunct played a significant role in ancient symbolism and has
managed to survive the test of time to still appear in everyday life. Still, it is Brown’s novel that
has truly reincarnated the circumpunct and brought it back toward the level of visibility that it
had in the time of Ancient Egypt. Brown may claim in his novel that the symbol has always been
this prominent, but its current visibility has been caused by none other than Brown himself.
Although the circumpunct is still recognizable in modern symbolism, this recognition more often
than not stems from a similarity to a symbol that is more commonly used and accepted in
modern times. The circumpunct will always be a part of symbolic history, and given its
reputation thus far, it is likely it will remain as an aspect of current symbolism, but despite
Brown’s declaration, it never has been and certainly never will be “the universal symbol for
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God” (493). With its simplicity as its beauty, “the circle with the dot in the middle” will likely
fall back into the shadows after the termination of The Lost Symbol craze, but it will undoubtedly
always be lurking in a symbol somewhere, whether we see it or not.
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Works Consulted
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