Chrisonomicon

Monday, January 20, 2003

When I was in Mexico, I purchased a necklace -- two, to be exact -- at a souvenier shop along the highway near the Mayan ruins of Coba, a black cord that ties together through the largest spiral of a conch shell that has been sliced horizontally to boast the beautiful, flesh-colored inside and the delicate arch that developed as the shell grew around itself. As I approached the display, which contained many such shell necklaces, traditional hemp necklaces, and conch shells in other arrangements, my eyes were drawn instantly to this intriguing spiral. Is this attraction to the Golden Ratio truly innate?