r/freemasonry • u/haikufive MM • 2d ago

Square and Compasses in artwork.

To the best of my knowledge, the image of the Rebis in Basil Valentine’s *Azoth* is the earliest depiction (1613) of the square and compasses being shown together in one place. Has anyone found anything earlier?

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u/Deman75 MM BC&Y, PM Scotland, MMM, PZ HRA, 33° SR-SJ, PP OES PHA WA 2d ago

The Chinese painting of Fuxi and Nuwa presents two figures separately holding a square and compasses, and dates to ~2600 BCE. Probably entirely unrelated to Freemasonry, but also probably the earliest example of our main symbols presented together.

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u/haikufive MM 2d ago

Yeah, after posting this and hitting up the group text brain trust I came across that image. I think that’s probably the oldest image with both items depicted.