Stripy patterns can be analysed in terms of lines of deflection, as shown in the two examples beneath.Different elements of symmetry inhere in the system of deflection-lines.In the first example, most of the lines of deflection are lines of reflection too. In the second example, the lines of deflection are connected to occuring rotation axes.

first example

The picture in this example originates from an Egyption tombe of the days of the great Pharaohs.





When lines of deflection are drawn within this pattern, the following system of deflection-lines arises.





A 'repeatunit' can be identified within the system. Within the repeat-unit different length-values occur.The length-values to some degree can be varied mutually independently. Each time the length-values in the repeat-unit are changed, a newpattern arises .





second example

The picture besides is an old Byzantine pattern of symmetrically arranged crosses. A repeatunit can be identified within the pattern, with values 1 and 2 in the borderlines.n this example, deflectionlines are closely related to the rotationaxes. The two lengthvalues can be varied mutually independently. Each time they are varied, new patterns arise.

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