The symbolism of the built temple.

Abstract This chapter aims to deconstruct religious architecture into fundamental elements, shapes, numbers and basic relations. First, it reflects on the relation between the temple as a built space and the value of the holy. The holy is an absolute element, intangible, but which in some way manifests itself to be perceived by the human being. The chapter then examines the process by which a temple is built, above all focusing on how the choice of location responds to a number of questions that are more symbolic than casuistic. Finally, it examines a number of aspects related to the symbolism of the temple and the meaning or meanings that can be attributed to the different elements and built parts of temples, above all Christian ones, but also relating them to those characteristics shared with other religious traditions.