On Sun, 10 Feb 2008 01:13:12 -0800 (PST), Sir Arthur CB Wholeflaffers
ASA <science@zzz.com> wrote:

It's NOT the simple, but suffice it to say I am NOT at liberty to
explain WHY it is called the Octagon.  You do NOT have a "need to
know" for that information, but I can assure you that it is correct.
Now move along, and when we need you, we will call you.  Don't hold
your breath though.

Funny man!

It's called the octagon because it's an octagon ... Like the one that
my grand-grand-father Frederico Secundus built in Italy: Castel del
Monte.
http://images.google.com/images?q=Castel+del+Monte

C.