Encyclopedia

Ajax

A prominent Greek hero in the Trojan War, known for his immense strength and tragic end, frequently used in Renaissance literature as an archetype of martial valor.

12 books · 166 mentions

Aditi

A Vedic goddess representing the infinite and the mother of the gods, often associated in astrological texts with the primordial source of cosmic order.

12 books · 164 mentions

Antiochus

A philosopher who sought to reconcile the teachings of the Academy, the Lyceum, and the Stoa, leading to the development of Middle Platonism.

12 books · 161 mentions

Al-Farabi

A preeminent medieval Islamic philosopher and polymath known as the 'Second Teacher,' who synthesized Aristotelianism and Neoplatonism, deeply influencing Western scholasticism.

12 books · 155 mentions

Alphidius

A legendary or pseudonymous Arabic alchemist frequently cited in medieval and Renaissance Latin alchemical compendia as an authority on the philosopher's stone.

11 books · 248 mentions

Ahab

The seventh King of Israel, often cited in theological works as a symbol of idolatry and wickedness due to his conflict with the prophet Elijah.

11 books · 246 mentions

Apostle James

One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus, traditionally associated with the Epistle of James and often cited in mystical contexts regarding faith and works.

11 books · 198 mentions

Abomination of Desolation

A prophetic term found in the Book of Daniel and the Gospels, referring to a sacrilegious presence in the Temple of Jerusalem. It is a central concept in Christian eschatology and apocalyptic literature.

11 books · 196 mentions

Atlas

A Titan from Greek mythology condemned to hold up the celestial heavens, often used in early modern natural philosophy as a symbol for the support of the cosmos or astronomical knowledge.

11 books · 188 mentions

Andromachus

A physician to the Roman Emperor Nero, famous for inventing Theriac, a complex polypharmaceutical compound used as an antidote and panacea for centuries.

11 books · 186 mentions

Atri

A legendary Vedic sage (Rishi) in Hindu tradition, credited with composing numerous hymns of the Rigveda and associated with the genealogy of the lunar dynasty.

11 books · 167 mentions

Adonis

A figure of Hellenic myth representing the cycle of death and rebirth, whose mystery cults influenced Renaissance allegorical interpretations of nature and fertility.

11 books · 154 mentions

Angels

Celestial beings in Abrahamic and esoteric traditions who act as messengers of God and intermediaries between the divine and human realms, organized into hierarchical choirs.

11 books · 154 mentions

Adultery

The violation of marital fidelity, treated in early modern moral and legal treatises as a significant transgression against both social order and divine law.

11 books · 150 mentions

Aryaman

An early Vedic deity representing nobility and hospitality, presiding over the Nakshatra Uttara Phalguni.

11 books · 133 mentions

Animal spirit

In early modern physiology, a subtle substance believed to flow through the nerves to facilitate sensation and movement, bridging soul and body.

10 books · 310 mentions

Arcanum

A term used in alchemy and Paracelsian medicine to refer to a secret, powerful mystery or a potent medicinal preparation.

10 books · 305 mentions

Atmospheric perspective

10 books · 273 mentions

Apsides

The points in an orbit where a celestial body is either closest to or farthest from its primary focus. The study of the line of apsides was crucial for early modern astronomers like Copernicus and Kepler in defining elliptical orbits.

10 books · 254 mentions

Anytus

One of the three primary accusers of Socrates, often cited in philosophical texts as the archetype of the political enemy of wisdom.

10 books · 237 mentions

Axioms

Self-evident truths or established principles that serve as the starting point for reasoning or mathematical proofs. In the Rosicrucian and Baconian traditions, axioms were sought as the fundamental laws of nature.

10 books · 236 mentions

Aelian

A Roman author and teacher of rhetoric (c. 175 – c. 235 CE) whose work 'On the Nature of Animals' was a popular source of zoological lore and moralizing anecdotes in the early modern period. He is frequently cited in works of natural magic and encyclopedic collections of the 17th century.

10 books · 227 mentions

Antoninus

Likely referring to the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, whose philosophical and historical legacy was frequently cited in early modern scientific and humanistic texts.

10 books · 219 mentions

Agent Intellect

In Aristotelian and Neoplatonic philosophy, the aspect of the mind that transforms potential knowledge into actual knowledge. It was often interpreted by medieval and Renaissance thinkers as a divine or universal faculty shared by all humans.

10 books · 212 mentions

Agricola

Georgius Agricola (Georg Bauer), a German scholar known as the father of mineralogy, whose work De Re Metallica revolutionized the study of mining and metallurgy.

10 books · 200 mentions

Asaph

A Levite singer and musician in the Hebrew Bible, identified as the author of several Psalms and cited in works on sacred harmony.

10 books · 197 mentions

Antoninus Pius

Roman Emperor from 138 to 161 AD, whose reign is frequently used as a chronological epoch in the astronomical calculations of Ptolemy and later Renaissance astronomers.

10 books · 196 mentions

Anaximander

A pre-Socratic Greek philosopher who proposed the 'apeiron' (the boundless) as the first principle of all things, cited in early modern histories of philosophy.

10 books · 193 mentions

Apennines

10 books · 188 mentions

Aristocracy

A form of government in which power is held by a privileged class or nobility. In classical and Renaissance political theory, it was considered the ideal rule of the 'best' citizens, distinct from oligarchy.

10 books · 183 mentions

Armillary sphere

10 books · 179 mentions

Apostle Peter

One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and a leader of the early Christian Church, traditionally regarded as the first Pope and a key figure in ecclesiastical authority.

10 books · 172 mentions

Aragon

10 books · 163 mentions

Aqua Regia

10 books · 161 mentions

Ascensional difference

10 books · 161 mentions

Agastya

A legendary Vedic seer and one of the Saptarishis, credited with spreading Vedic culture to Southern India and associated with the star Canopus.

10 books · 159 mentions

Ascensional Difference (Chara)

10 books · 158 mentions

Amelius

A 3rd-century Neoplatonist philosopher and student of Plotinus who played a crucial role in the development of Neoplatonic metaphysics and the interpretation of the Logos.

10 books · 153 mentions

Arnald of Villanova

A 13th-century physician and alchemist whose works on medicine and alchemy were highly influential throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance.

10 books · 149 mentions

Aeacus

In Greek mythology, a king of Aegina known for his piety and justice, who became one of the three judges of the Underworld after his death. He is occasionally invoked in alchemical allegories and Neoplatonic commentaries on the soul's judgment.

10 books · 137 mentions

Augsburg Confession

10 books · 133 mentions

Al-Kindi

Known as the 'Philosopher of the Arabs,' he was a polymath who integrated Greek philosophy with Islamic thought and wrote influential treatises on optics and stellar rays.

10 books · 129 mentions

Antisthenes

A Greek philosopher and a pupil of Socrates who is traditionally regarded as the founder of the Cynic school of philosophy.

10 books · 127 mentions

Ananias

A name shared by several biblical figures, most notably the disciple in Damascus who restored the sight of Saul of Tarsus, appearing in texts concerning divine healing.

10 books · 127 mentions

Alcinous

A Middle Platonist philosopher of the 2nd century AD, recognized for his 'Handbook of Platonism' which synthesized Platonic, Aristotelian, and Stoic doctrines.

9 books · 234 mentions

Atmospheric Refraction

The deviation of light from a straight line as it passes through the atmosphere, a phenomenon crucial to the accuracy of astronomical observations by Kepler and Tycho Brahe.

9 books · 223 mentions

Angle of Incidence

9 books · 183 mentions

Alchemists

9 books · 175 mentions

Ashtakavarga

A unique system in Indian astrology (Jyotisha) that uses a point-based calculation to determine the strength and influence of planets as they transit through the zodiac.

9 books · 173 mentions

Arthur Edward Waite

A British scholarly occultist who wrote extensively on Western esotericism, Freemasonry, and the Tarot, best known for the Rider-Waite Tarot deck.

9 books · 167 mentions

Anacreon

An ancient Greek lyric poet known for his poems on themes of love and wine, which influenced the 'Anacreontic' style in Renaissance literature. His work was often cited in discussions of music, poetry, and the nature of pleasure.

9 books · 155 mentions

Anebo

An Egyptian priest to whom Porphyry addressed his 'Letter to Anebo', prompting Iamblichus's famous defense of theurgy, 'De Mysteriis'. He represents the traditional Egyptian priestly wisdom challenged by Greek philosophical inquiry.

9 books · 152 mentions

Apostle John

One of the Twelve Apostles, traditionally credited with the Fourth Gospel and the Book of Revelation. His writings provided the foundation for much of Christian mysticism and apocalyptic speculation.

9 books · 149 mentions

Anaxarchus

A Greek philosopher and companion of Alexander the Great, noted for his skepticism and cited in early modern texts for his stoic indifference to physical suffering.

9 books · 149 mentions

Abraham the Jew

A legendary figure often identified as the author of the Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin, influential in modern occultism and ceremonial magic.

9 books · 143 mentions

Argus

9 books · 140 mentions

Archigenes

A prominent Greek physician of the 1st and 2nd centuries AD who practiced in Rome. His medical theories, particularly regarding the pulse and chronic diseases, were cited by Renaissance humanists like Ficino.

9 books · 136 mentions

Ancient Sages

9 books · 131 mentions