The Book of Mormon describes its world as having four sides aligned with the four cardinal directions
Mosiah 27:6,
3 Nephi 1:17. It also describes its world as having four quarters
Alma 43:26,
Alma 52:10. The Nephites described their focal point as the heart
Helaman 1:18 or center
Helaman 1:25-27 of their land. Furthermore, they perceived themselves inhabiting a single isle of the sea
2 Nephi 10:20-21 nearly surrounded by water
Alma 22:32 with salt water on every side
Helaman 3:8. For more context see the blog articles "
Test #5 North South East and West" and "
Smoking Gun."
For examples of the widespread Mesoamerican notion of a spatial quincunx, see the article "
Light from LA" points 6 and 43.
A beautiful portrayal of this worldview was found at Masada where a replica hangs in the Visitor Center.
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| Replica of Mosaic, Masada, Israel Photo by Kirk Magleby June 20, 2016 |
This wall hanging shows four sides, four quarters, and a center all surrounded by water.
Corresponding depictions are found throughout the Americas. This is a museum replica of the well-known Inca Chakana.
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| Chakana from Museo Larco, Lima, Peru in Kirk Magleby's Collection |
A very similar version of this symbol is on the Lanzon at the Temple of Chavin. It is attested in Andean art from Chavin through Inca times (2nd millennium BC - European contact).
The same idea is expressed on the striking Hopewell Wheel displayed in the Ohio History Connection Museum in Columbus.
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| Hopewell Copper Wheel First Millennium AD |
As we would expect, this worldview was widely portrayed throughout Mesoamerica. This is a pre-columbian representation thought to have originated in Veracruz.
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| Codex Fejervary-Mayer now in the World Museum, Liverpool, England |
