Encyclopedia

Abraham

The biblical patriarch of the Israelites, sometimes credited in mystical traditions with receiving the secrets of astrology and the Sefer Yetzirah.

155 books · 5304 mentions

Augustine of Hippo

A pivotal North African theologian and philosopher whose writings, such as The City of God, profoundly shaped Western Christianity and Neoplatonic thought.

153 books · 4578 mentions

Avicenna

A Persian polymath and one of the most significant physicians and philosophers of the Islamic Golden Age, whose Canon of Medicine and alchemical attributions were central to medieval European learning.

137 books · 4812 mentions

Athens

The preeminent city-state of ancient Greece, symbolizing the peak of classical reason and the historical home of the Platonic and Aristotelian schools.

131 books · 4558 mentions

Alexander the Great

The King of Macedon whose conquests spread Hellenistic culture; in the esoteric tradition, he is often linked to the discovery of the Emerald Tablet and various Hermetic secrets.

116 books · 2958 mentions

Alexandria

An Egyptian city that served as the intellectual capital of the Hellenistic world and the birthplace of Hermeticism, Neoplatonism, and early alchemy.

113 books · 2705 mentions

Apollo

The Greek and Roman god of the sun, prophecy, and music, frequently used in alchemical allegory to represent the solar principle, gold, or the enlightened intellect.

96 books · 2180 mentions

Albertus Magnus

A Dominican friar and polymath whose works on natural science and alchemy earned him the title 'Doctor Universalis' and a legendary reputation as a magician.

89 books · 2169 mentions

Africa

A continent often associated in early modern texts with the origins of Egyptian wisdom (Hermeticism) and diverse magical traditions.

84 books · 1331 mentions

Asia

One of the three traditional continents known to early modern Europeans, often regarded in esoteric texts as the source of ancient wisdom, including the teachings of the Magi and the Chaldeans.

75 books · 1276 mentions

Archimedes

An ancient Greek mathematician and engineer whose works on geometry and mechanics were foundational to the development of early modern physics and mathematics.

74 books · 1968 mentions

Arabia

A region historically significant in the transmission of Greek science and alchemy to the West, often cited as the home of legendary figures like Geber and the source of 'Arabic' wisdom.

73 books · 1249 mentions

Amsterdam

A major European printing and commercial center in the 17th century that served as a refuge for heterodox thinkers and a primary hub for the publication of esoteric literature.

72 books · 1972 mentions

Anaxagoras

A Pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who introduced the concept of Nous (Mind) as the ordering force of the cosmos, influential in early natural philosophy and cosmology.

62 books · 1387 mentions

Aries

The first sign of the zodiac, symbolizing the element of fire and the beginning of the astrological year; it is often associated with the head and the renewal of vital forces.

60 books · 1282 mentions

America

The 'New World' discovered by Europeans in the late 15th century, which challenged traditional geographical and cosmological frameworks in early modern thought.

58 books · 981 mentions

Alexander

Likely referring to Alexander of Aphrodisias, a major commentator on Aristotle whose works were crucial for the transmission of Peripatetic philosophy to the Latin West.

58 books · 905 mentions

Aaron

The first High Priest of the Israelites and brother of Moses, representing the sacerdotal and ritualistic aspects of the divine law in Kabbalistic and biblical traditions.

52 books · 1297 mentions

Averroes

A medieval Andalusian polymath whose commentaries on Aristotle significantly influenced Western scholasticism and the development of secular philosophy.

51 books · 1676 mentions

Apostle Paul

A pivotal early Christian figure whose epistles provided the theological framework for Western thought and whose mystical 'ascent' served as a prototype for esoteric revelation.

50 books · 923 mentions

Assyria

An ancient Mesopotamian kingdom and empire often cited in esoteric texts as a source of primordial wisdom, astrology, and theurgy.

47 books · 848 mentions

Alchemy

A philosophical and protoscientific tradition aimed at the transmutation of base metals into noble ones and the attainment of spiritual perfection.

45 books · 735 mentions

Armenia

A region in the Caucasus often cited in early modern texts as the site of Mount Ararat and a land of ancient wisdom and specific mineralogical importance.

44 books · 694 mentions

Apuleius of Madaura

43 books · 829 mentions

Abel

The second son of Adam and Eve in the biblical narrative, often interpreted in esoteric and Boehmenist thought as a symbol of the spiritual, inward man.

43 books · 708 mentions

Ascendant (Lagna)

In astrology, the degree of the zodiac rising on the eastern horizon at the time of birth, considered the most important point in a natal chart.

42 books · 783 mentions

Asclepius

A legendary figure in Greek mythology and the namesake of a major Hermetic treatise, often identified as a disciple of Hermes Trismegistus.

39 books · 925 mentions

Augsburg

A prominent Imperial City in Germany that served as a major center for banking, printing, and the Reformation. It is significant in the history of science for its production of astronomical instruments and influential alchemical publications.

38 books · 744 mentions

Apollonius

A Greek geometer known as 'The Great Geometer' whose work on conic sections was essential for the astronomical breakthroughs of the 16th and 17th centuries.

36 books · 761 mentions

Augustus

The first Roman Emperor, whose reign was viewed by early modern scholars as the providential setting for the birth of Christ. He is frequently cited in astronomical and chronological works for his calendar reforms and patronage of the arts.

36 books · 724 mentions

Archytas of Tarentum

A Greek philosopher, mathematician, and statesman of the Pythagorean school, credited with founding mathematical mechanics and influencing Platonic thought.

36 books · 571 mentions

Apelles

A renowned painter of ancient Greece, often cited in Renaissance texts as the pinnacle of artistic excellence and the master of mimesis.

35 books · 651 mentions

Achilles

The central hero of Homer's Iliad, celebrated for his martial prowess and his vulnerable heel. In alchemical and emblematic traditions, he sometimes represents the volatile spirit or the heroic soul undergoing trials of purification.

35 books · 628 mentions

Astrology

The study of the movements and relative positions of celestial bodies interpreted as having an influence on human affairs and the natural world.

34 books · 603 mentions

Apollonius of Tyana

A Neopythagorean philosopher and miracle-worker of the 1st century AD, often regarded in occult traditions as a master of theurgy and ancient wisdom.

33 books · 804 mentions

Archetype

In Platonic and Neoplatonic philosophy, the original pattern or ideal form from which all things are derived; later central to early modern pansophy.

33 books · 585 mentions

Antwerp

A major port city in Belgium that served as a leading center for international trade and book production, notably through the Plantin Press.

29 books · 569 mentions

Allegory

A literary and artistic device used to convey complex meanings through symbolic figures, actions, or imagery, central to the interpretation of alchemical and biblical texts.

28 books · 509 mentions

Abu Ma'shar

27 books · 511 mentions

Antioch

An ancient Greek city on the Orontes River that served as a major center of early Christianity and Hellenistic culture. It was a pivotal hub for the transmission of philosophical and theological ideas between the Near East and the Mediterranean world.

27 books · 410 mentions

Aeneas

The Trojan hero of Virgil's 'Aeneid' who fled the fall of Troy to become the legendary ancestor of the Romans. He is often invoked in early modern literature as a model of piety and the providential movement of history.

26 books · 506 mentions

Aquarius

A constellation of the zodiac, traditionally represented as a man pouring water, and significant in both ancient astronomy and astrological systems.

26 books · 494 mentions

Austria

A central European region and political power under the Habsburgs, which served as a significant site for the development of early modern science, alchemy, and astronomy.

26 books · 429 mentions

Athanasius Kircher

A 17th-century Jesuit polymath and 'master of a hundred arts' who published extensively on music, orientalism, geology, and medicine.

25 books · 2198 mentions

Aristoxenus

A Greek Peripatetic philosopher and a pupil of Aristotle, best known for his influential treatises on music theory and rhythm. His work was a primary source for Renaissance scholars in their studies of cosmic harmony.

25 books · 568 mentions

Aristarchus of Samos

An ancient Greek astronomer and mathematician who presented the first known heliocentric model of the solar system, placing the Sun at the center.

25 books · 499 mentions

Arcadia

A mountainous region of Greece that became a literary and artistic symbol for a lost golden age of pastoral simplicity and harmony.

25 books · 394 mentions

Astronomy

One of the liberal arts of the Quadrivium, traditionally concerned with the mathematical and physical study of celestial bodies. In early modern thought, it was often indistinguishable from astrology and seen as a means to understand the divine order of the cosmos.

25 books · 375 mentions

Amalgamation

An alchemical and metallurgical process of combining a metal, typically gold or silver, with mercury to form an alloy, often used symbolically to represent the union of opposites.

24 books · 514 mentions

Athanasius

A 4th-century Bishop of Alexandria and a chief defender of Trinitarianism against Arianism, whose writings were foundational to Orthodox and Catholic dogma.

23 books · 389 mentions

Animal Spirits

In early modern physiology, subtle fluids or vapors thought to reside in the nerves and brain, facilitating sensation, movement, and the connection between soul and body.

22 books · 823 mentions

Aristophanes

An Athenian playwright of the 5th century BCE known for his comedies, which were studied by early modern scholars for their linguistic richness and social satire.

22 books · 533 mentions

Aristotle (The Philosopher)

An ancient Greek philosopher and polymath whose system of logic and natural philosophy dominated Western intellectual thought for nearly two millennia.

22 books · 531 mentions

Agrippa

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa von Nettesheim was a 16th-century German polymath and occultist whose 'De Occulta Philosophia' synthesized Renaissance magic, Kabbalah, and Neoplatonism.

22 books · 477 mentions

Arnold of Villanova

A 13th-century Catalan physician, alchemist, and religious reformer whose works bridged scholastic medicine and hermetic practice. He is traditionally credited with numerous alchemical treatises and the introduction of 'aqua vitae' into medical use.

22 books · 395 mentions

Avarice

One of the seven deadly sins, characterized by an insatiable desire for material wealth, frequently personified in moralistic and theological treatises of the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

22 books · 359 mentions

Alps

The highest and most extensive mountain range system in Europe, often cited in early modern texts regarding geography, natural history, and alchemical travel.

22 books · 338 mentions

Alcibiades

A prominent Athenian statesman and general known for his beauty, brilliance, and controversial role in the Peloponnesian War. He is a central figure in Platonic dialogues, often used to explore the relationship between the soul, eros, and political ambition.

21 books · 636 mentions