Editing Westminster Abbey (section)

=== Cosmati pavement ===
[[File:Cosmati pavement by high altar, Westminster Abbey 02.jpg|thumb|The Cosmati pavement|alt=The Cosmati pavement: an elaborately-patterned floor with geometric designs with small red, brown, black and gold tiles]]

At the crossing in front of Edward the Confessor's shrine and the main altar is the Cosmati pavement, a 700-year-old tile floor made of almost 30,000 pieces of coloured glass and stone.{{sfn|Trowles|2008||pp=27–28}} Measuring almost 25 feet square,{{sfn|Trowles|2008||pp=27–28}} coronations take place here.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Grierson |first=Jamie |date=24 March 2023 |title=Public invited to walk on Westminster Abbey's Cosmati pavement – in socks |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/mar/24/public-invited-to-walk-on-westminster-abbeys-cosmati-pavement-in-socks |access-date=24 April 2023 |issn=0261-3077}}</ref>

The floor is named after the [[Cosmati]] family in Rome, who were known for such work.{{sfn|Wilkinson|Knighton|2010|pp=17–18}} It was commissioned by [[Richard of Ware|Richard Ware]], who travelled to Rome in 1258, when he became abbot, and returned with stone and artists. The [[Porphyry (geology)|porphyry]] used was originally quarried as far away as Egypt, and was presumably brought to Italy during the [[Roman Empire]]. It was surrounded by a Latin inscription in brass letters (since lost) identifying the artist as Odericus,{{sfn|Jenkyns|2004|pp=36–39}} probably referring to designer Pietro di Oderisio or his son.{{sfn|Trowles|2008|p=16}} The inscription also predicted the end of the world 19,863 years after its creation.{{sfn|Wilkinson|2013|p=7}} Unlike traditional mosaic work, the pieces were not cut to a uniform size but made using a technique known as ''[[opus sectile]]'' ("cut work").{{sfn|Trowles|2008|pp=27–28}} It is unique among Cosmati floors in Europe for the use of dark Purbeck-marble trays, forming bold borders, instead of the more typical white marble.{{sfn|Trowles|2008|pp=27–28}} The pavement influenced later floor treatments at [[St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle]], and [[Canterbury Cathedral]].{{sfn|Fawcett|1998|p=53}}

Geometric designs, such as those in the pavement, were thought to help the abbey's monks with contemplation, and conveyed medieval Christian ideas on the nature of the universe that could not easily be put into words.{{Sfn|Foster|1991|p=4}} Much of the design relies on the geometric [[Quadrature (geometry)|doubling of the square]], considered a trade secret by stonemasons.{{Sfn|Foster|1991|pp=116–118}} The four-sided squares, four-fold symmetry, and the four inner [[roundel]]s of the design represent the [[Classical element|four elements]] of classical philosophy, with the central roundel representing the unformed state of the universe at its creation.{{Sfn|Foster|1991|pp=152–154}} Each inner roundel is touched by two bands, which represent the shared qualities of each element; water and air were both considered "moist" in classical philosophy, and air and fire were both considered "hot".{{Sfn|Foster|1991|p=155}}