Encyclopedia

Boethius

A Roman philosopher and statesman whose Consolation of Philosophy and works on music and logic bridged classical antiquity and the Middle Ages.

58 books · 1778 mentions

Berlin

A major European city that became a significant center for Enlightenment thought, Rosicrucian activity, and later occult revivalism in the German-speaking world.

56 books · 1129 mentions

Bologna

An Italian city home to one of the oldest universities in Europe, serving as a vital center for the study of law, medicine, and natural philosophy during the Renaissance.

55 books · 1131 mentions

Bohemia

A historical region in Central Europe that served as a vibrant hub for alchemical patronage, religious reform, and the Rosicrucian movement in the early 17th century.

49 books · 765 mentions

Basel

A Swiss city that served as a major center for Renaissance humanism and printing, notably producing early editions of Paracelsian and Hermetic works.

45 books · 999 mentions

Bacchus

The Roman god of wine and ecstasy, often identified with the Greek Dionysus. In Renaissance mythography and alchemy, he represents the transformative power of divine frenzy and the dissolution of matter into its spiritual essence.

38 books · 763 mentions

Byzantium

An ancient Greek city that became Constantinople, serving as a vital bridge for the transmission of Greek scientific and philosophical texts to the Latin West during the Renaissance. It is often referenced in early modern astronomical and geographical works.

35 books · 503 mentions

Balaam

A biblical prophet and diviner known for his interaction with an angel and a talking donkey, frequently cited in works on magic and Kabbalah.

31 books · 543 mentions

Babel

The biblical city and tower where humanity's language was confounded, serving in esoteric thought as a symbol of the loss of the 'primordial language' and the fragmentation of divine knowledge.

30 books · 841 mentions

British Museum

A public institution in London dedicated to human history, art, and culture, housing vast collections of rare manuscripts and artifacts relevant to the history of ideas.

30 books · 518 mentions

Bethlehem

The biblical birthplace of Jesus and a major site of Christian pilgrimage, often discussed in early modern theological and divinatory texts.

28 books · 466 mentions

Bombay

A major port city on the west coast of India, which became a significant center for trade and the exchange of Eastern and Western ideas during the colonial period.

27 books · 525 mentions

Bhrigu

One of the seven great sages (Saptarishi) in Hindu mythology, credited with the authorship of foundational texts in astrology and law.

26 books · 612 mentions

Bavaria

A historical region and duchy in Southern Germany, significant as a center of the Counter-Reformation and early modern scientific patronage.

26 books · 475 mentions

Brussels

A major European city that served as a center for political and medical developments in the early modern period, particularly within the Spanish Netherlands.

25 books · 567 mentions

Basilius Valentinus

A legendary alchemist, purportedly a 15th-century Benedictine monk, whose influential writings (such as 'The Twelve Keys') were published in the early 17th century. He is credited with significant chemical discoveries, though his historical existence is debated.

21 books · 953 mentions

Brescia

An Italian city in Lombardy that was a center of Renaissance learning, particularly in the fields of medicine, mathematics, and printing.

21 books · 347 mentions

Belgium

A region in the Low Countries that became a significant center for printing, botanical studies, and chemical medicine during the Northern Renaissance.

20 books · 311 mentions

Bhaskaracharya

A prominent 12th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer who headed the astronomical observatory at Ujjain and authored the influential Siddhanta Shiromani.

18 books · 915 mentions

Brahmins

The highest varna in Hindu society, traditionally composed of priests, teachers, and protectors of sacred learning and Vedic rituals.

18 books · 329 mentions

Baptism

A Christian sacrament of admission and adoption, almost invariably with the use of water, symbolizing purification or regeneration and admission to the Christian Church.

18 books · 249 mentions

Boston

A town in Lincolnshire, England, which served as a significant center for Puritanism and maritime trade during the 16th and 17th centuries.

18 books · 208 mentions

Basil Valentine

A legendary 15th-century alchemist, often identified as a Benedictine monk, whose influential writings on antimony and the philosopher's stone were likely authored by Johann Thölde.

17 books · 555 mentions

Brazil

A vast region in South America that became a subject of intense interest in early modern natural history and travel literature following its discovery by Europeans.

17 books · 242 mentions

Brihaspati

A Vedic deity and sage in Hindu mythology, identified as the preceptor of the gods and the regent of the planet Jupiter, often appearing in astrological and esoteric Indian texts.

16 books · 316 mentions

Brutus

A Roman senator and lead assassin of Julius Caesar, often invoked in Renaissance political philosophy as a symbol of republicanism or tyrannicide.

16 books · 237 mentions

Boeotia

A region of ancient Greece, north of the Gulf of Corinth, known for its capital Thebes and its association with various myths and poets like Hesiod and Pindar. It is frequently cited in classical and early modern geographical surveys.

16 books · 189 mentions

Bhaskara

A prominent Indian mathematician and astronomer, author of the Siddhanta Shiromani, whose work was foundational to medieval Indian exact sciences.

15 books · 439 mentions

Bloodletting

A traditional medical practice involving the withdrawal of blood to balance the bodily humors, frequently discussed in early modern iatrochemical and Galenic texts.

15 books · 380 mentions

Beelzebub

A major figure in demonology, originally a Philistine god (Baal Zebub) and later identified in Christian tradition as a high-ranking demon or prince of hell. He features prominently in early modern grimoires and theological treatises on witchcraft and spiritual warfare.

15 books · 193 mentions

Basil

A 4th-century Church Father whose writings on the creation of the world (Hexaemeron) influenced natural philosophy and the reconciliation of theology with physical science.

14 books · 304 mentions

Brabant

A historical region in the Low Countries that was a major center of political power, commerce, and printing during the Renaissance and Reformation.

14 books · 189 mentions

Buddha

The founder of Buddhism, whose teachings and persona were integrated into early modern Western comparative studies of Oriental philosophy and Hermetic chronologies.

13 books · 215 mentions

Babylonia

An ancient Akkadian-speaking state and cultural region in central-southern Mesopotamia, frequently cited in esoteric texts as a source of astrological and magical knowledge.

13 books · 119 mentions

Burgundy

A historical region in Western Europe that was a powerful duchy during the late Middle Ages, known for its courtly culture and influence on early modern politics and art.

11 books · 231 mentions

Bethel

A significant biblical site where Jacob experienced his vision of the ladder reaching to heaven, later becoming a major religious center in ancient Israel. In mystical literature, it symbolizes the threshold between the earthly and divine realms.

11 books · 217 mentions

Benjamin

The youngest son of Jacob and Rachel in the Hebrew Bible, representing one of the twelve tribes of Israel. In mystical and Kabbalistic traditions, Benjamin is often associated with specific spiritual attributes and the southern direction of the Tabernacle.

11 books · 198 mentions

Black Bile (Melancholy)

11 books · 156 mentions

Bodleian Library

The primary research library of the University of Oxford, established in 1602 and housing one of the world's most significant collections of esoteric, alchemical, and medieval manuscripts.

11 books · 137 mentions

Bithynia

An ancient region and Roman province in northwest Asia Minor, frequently mentioned in historical and theological texts concerning early Church history.

11 books · 91 mentions

Bhattotpala

A 10th-century Indian astronomer and mathematician renowned for his extensive commentaries on the works of Varahamihira. His writings are essential for the preservation and interpretation of classical Indian astronomical and astrological traditions.

10 books · 840 mentions

Breslau

A historic city in Lower Silesia that served as a significant center for printing, scientific inquiry, and intellectual life in Central Europe.

10 books · 180 mentions

Baruch

The scribe and disciple of the prophet Jeremiah, to whom several influential apocryphal and pseudepigraphal texts are attributed in the Judeo-Christian tradition.

10 books · 112 mentions

Black Sea

A large inland sea between Europe and Asia, often mentioned in early modern texts regarding the geography of ancient myths and the origins of Hekate.

10 books · 76 mentions

Brain

9 books · 262 mentions

Bern

A major city in Switzerland that became a significant center of the Protestant Reformation and intellectual life in the early modern period. It is frequently mentioned in historical, botanical, and theological texts of the 16th century.

9 books · 200 mentions

Bezalel

The biblical craftsman appointed by God to construct the Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant, endowed with divine wisdom and artistic skill. In esoteric traditions, he is viewed as an archetypal figure of the divinely inspired artist or alchemist who understands the proportions of creation.

9 books · 199 mentions

Bacon

Refers to either Roger Bacon, the medieval scientist, or Francis Bacon, the philosopher of the scientific method; both were highly influential in early modern natural philosophy.

9 books · 180 mentions

Brahmin

The highest varna in the Hindu social hierarchy, traditionally composed of priests, scholars, and teachers responsible for the transmission of the Vedas.

9 books · 158 mentions

Balsam

A resinous substance used in medicine and alchemy, often symbolizing a life-preserving essence or 'radical moisture' within living organisms.

9 books · 150 mentions

Basil the Great

A 4th-century Bishop of Caesarea and one of the Cappadocian Fathers, influential for his contributions to the Nicene Creed and Christian monasticism. His writings on the Hexameron were significant for early modern natural philosophy and theology.

9 books · 140 mentions

Brunswick

A significant German city and duchy that served as a center for intellectual life and the publication of various scientific and esoteric works.

9 books · 115 mentions

Basilides

An early Christian Gnostic teacher in Alexandria who founded the Basilidians in the 2nd century. He is noted for his complex cosmogony involving 365 heavens and the mystical name Abraxas.

9 books · 106 mentions

Being (ens)

9 books · 86 mentions

Brahmagupta

An eminent 7th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer who authored the Brāhmasphuṭasiddhānta and established rules for calculating with zero and negative numbers.

8 books · 471 mentions

Bestiary

8 books · 208 mentions

Benares

8 books · 183 mentions

Bengal

8 books · 177 mentions