"Rigor Vitae: [Hagia Sophia]
In some manuscripts, the second section of "1/ Rigor Vitae" is entitled "Hagia Sophia." The original Latin name for the edifice was Sancta Sophia. Sancta and Hagia both mean “holy.” Sophia is the biblical name (in Greek) for “wisdom.” Hagia Sophia, also called the Holy Wisdom of Christ in God, was built in sixth-century Constantinople. In Manuscript 9, Merrill notes the number of poetic feet per line.
Manuscript 6 contains Merrill's sketch of (presumably) Scheherazade.
Night 39
9) "5 The house of Heavenly Wisdom." Ink, pencil, draft paper. Two sketches. Numbered poetic feet.
