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From: chas@ihuxe.UUCP (Charles Lambert)
Newsgroups: net.tv.drwho
Subject: Re: Castrovalva
Message-ID: <976@ihuxe.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 3-Dec-84 16:09:03 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxe.976
Posted: Mon Dec  3 16:09:03 1984
Date-Received: Tue, 4-Dec-84 08:34:45 EST
References: <8300004@acf4.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
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> By the way, the word "Castrovalva" seems to come from the
> Latin, 'castrum' meaning castle or fort, and 'valva' meaning
> doors or a gateway, so it's probably something like
> "The way to the castle" which, judging from the picture,
> is quite possible.
>                                           percus@nyu-acf4

I missed Percus' earlier article, but I guess that the picture referred
to is the lithograph "Castrovalva", by the artist and mathematician
M. C. Esher.  It depicts a group of buidings atop a high cliff,
like The Master's creation.

Esher was fascinated by illusion, recursion and false perspectives in his
art.  Some of his drawings (eg. "Relativity", "Above and Below") show
buildings where direction, even "up" and "down", makes no sense, and
stairways finish up back where they started -- inspiration for the
problems the Doctor faced when trying to get out of the place.

I'd recommend any Who fans to look at Esher's work; it's definitely
trans-dimensional!

	P.S.  Everyone see the doctor-to-be in a recent episode?
	      I hope that's not the only character-type in Colin
	      Baker's repertoire.

Chas.