The north and paradigms of balance
harmony and equilibrium as an urban ideal
pp. 103-116
in: , Phenomenology of the Winter-city, Berlin, Springer, 2016Abstract
The impact of ancient variants of the myth of Axis mundi upon city-form traces to late prehistory and early antiquity. Evidence from Mohenjo-daro of the Harrappan civilization in the Indus Valley, and from Greek colony of Thurii are two examples that show alignment of streets to cardinal directions with deference to North. Compass street alignment has been recorded in many other early archaeological sites, and has been prevailing in Roman colonies.