Big Ben Re-strikes for New Year 2022

I have often wondered about the metaphorical significance, if any, of the shrouding and renovation of 'Big Ben' in the recently named 'Elizabeth Tower'. It is due to be re-commissioned this week in readiness for striking in the new year.

The original colours of the clock face - white, blue and gold - have been returned. Interestingly only the face facing the Thames is to be illuminated for the event. This New Year’s Eve, Big Ben will strike 12 times to mark the start of 2022. People have been advised to stay away as part of Covid policy.

"On Wednesday 30 December at 12:00, 22:00, 23:00 and midnight, the bell will sound. On Thursday, 31 December (New Year’s Eve), Big Ben will strike at 12:00, 16:00, 21:00, 22:00, 23:00 and finally, midnight on 31 December 2020." Except of course Thursday is NOT New Year's Eve - Friday is. An obvious error for the UK Parliament web site to make.

How to make sense of the sequencing from Thursday to Friday? Are the first five times on Thursday and only the midnight chimes on Friday or is the sequence to run on both days? Am I the only one to be confused? No explanation is given for the numbers chosen. Do they symbolise anything more than the time?

"The four-and-twenty elders stand clothed in white before the great-white throne, and the Holy One that sitteth there white like wool which strikes more of panic to the soul than that redness which affrights in blood, to heighten that terror to the furthest bounds." "Bethink thee of the albatross, whence come those clouds of spiritual wonderment and pale dread, in which that white phantom sails in all imaginations? Not Coleridge first threw that spell; but God’s great, unflattering laureate, Nature."

These quotes from Moby Dick were employed by the Radio 3 programme 'Words and Music' this evening (29th Dec. 2021) that took as its theme the Chess board and the topical subject of 'black and white'. Of course the chessboard is also the symbol of Masonry as are several of the numbers referred to above. I have referenced the significance of eleven and its multiples many times.

The Herman Melville quote is of course rooted in Revelation Chapter 4 which reads as follows (KJV):-

1 After this I looked, and, behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter.

2 And immediately I was in the spirit: and, behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sat on the throne.

3 And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald.

4 And round about the throne were four and twenty seats: and upon the seats I saw four and twenty elders sitting, clothed in white raiment; and they had on their heads crowns of gold.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings and thunderings and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glass like unto crystal: and in the midst of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beasts full of eyes before and behind.

7 And the first beast was like a lion, and the second beast like a calf, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying eagle.

8 And the four beasts had each of them six wings about him; and they were full of eyes within: and they rest not day and night, saying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.

9 And when those beasts give glory and honour and thanks to him that sat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever,

10 The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying,

11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

                

Needless to say efforts have been made to afford meaning to these mystical writings by John the Divine on Patmos, not least because it is a tenet of the Christianity that they are divinely inspired prophesy were they to be understood. Notwithstanding this, as the Melville quote proves, they lend themselves to the literary, allegorical and imaginative landscape and may be reapplied at any time to notable current events as signals or mystical signposts. 

We may make our own interpretation of the twenty four elders; of the 'four beasts full of eyes' - the lion, calf (or bull), eagle and face; before a sea of glass; a door opened into the heavens; an emerald rainbow around the throne; from which proceeded lightenings and thunderings.

Big Ben and the Elizabeth Tower certainly possess a symbolic meaning and importance to the nation beyond that of a mere architectural gem of a building, be it jasper, sardine stone or emerald. It has been shrouded for four years dominated by 'terror attacks' and Covid 'plague', of the death of the Monarch's Consort and a amateur, bungled alleged attempt on her life, let us hope the return of Big Ben does not presage further horrendous outrages.