Encyclopedia

Cyprus

A Mediterranean island associated with the goddess Venus and the production of copper, often appearing in alchemical and Rosicrucian allegories.

66 books · 1077 mentions

Constantinople

The capital of the Byzantine and later Ottoman Empires, crucial for the transmission of Greek Hermetic and Platonic manuscripts to Renaissance Europe.

66 books · 1071 mentions

Chaldea

An ancient region in Mesopotamia often associated in Western esotericism with the origins of astrology, magic, and the 'Chaldean Oracles' used by Neoplatonists.

64 books · 953 mentions

Crete

A large Mediterranean island significant in classical mythology and early modern history as a site of ancient civilization and a strategic maritime outpost.

61 books · 1371 mentions

Calcination

The first stage of the alchemical magnum opus, involving the reduction of a substance to ash through intense heat, symbolizing the purification of the soul.

60 books · 2555 mentions

China

A vast East Asian empire that intrigued early modern European thinkers as a source of ancient wisdom, advanced technology, and alternative philosophical systems like Confucianism.

60 books · 1388 mentions

Cambridge

A prominent English university town that became a significant center for Platonism, scientific inquiry, and theological debate during the Renaissance and Enlightenment.

51 books · 890 mentions

Cyrus the Great

The founder of the Achaemenid Empire, often depicted in early modern texts as a model of the enlightened monarch and a figure of biblical prophecy.

51 books · 886 mentions

Capricorn

The tenth sign of the zodiac, associated in early modern astrology with the winter solstice, the planet Saturn, and the element of earth.

49 books · 883 mentions

Cologne

A major German city and center of learning, noted for its university and its association with figures like Albertus Magnus and the development of printing.

46 books · 818 mentions

Chaos (Prime Matter)

46 books · 726 mentions

Cain

The biblical firstborn son of Adam and Eve, often interpreted in esoteric traditions as a figure of earthly labor, the origins of the arts, or a symbol of the material soul.

44 books · 847 mentions

Cancer

The fourth sign of the zodiac and a constellation, traditionally associated with the element of water and the moon's domicile.

44 books · 827 mentions

Coagulation

An alchemical process involving the solidification or thickening of a substance, often paired with 'dissolution' in the maxim 'Solve et Coagula'.

42 books · 825 mentions

Carthage

An ancient North African city-state and rival to Rome, frequently cited in historical and theological texts regarding its Punic culture and later role in early Christianity.

42 books · 809 mentions

Center of gravity

The point in a body where its total weight is concentrated. Its mathematical and physical study was a cornerstone of early modern mechanics and natural philosophy, explored by figures from Archimedes to Huygens.

38 books · 1364 mentions

Canaan

The ancient biblical region promised to the Israelites, frequently discussed in Kabbalistic and theological texts as a land of spiritual significance. It serves as a primary setting for the narratives of the Patriarchs and the development of Mosaic law.

36 books · 1066 mentions

Corinth

An ancient Greek city-state of strategic importance, often cited in early modern texts for its architectural orders and its role in the early Christian church.

35 books · 588 mentions

Cato

A Roman statesman celebrated in Renaissance literature for his stoic virtue and moral integrity, particularly in the works of Boethius and Petrarch.

33 books · 575 mentions

Colchis

An ancient region on the eastern coast of the Black Sea, famous in mythology as the destination of the Argonauts and the home of the Golden Fleece.

31 books · 504 mentions

Clement of Alexandria

A Christian theologian and philosopher who sought to harmonize Greek philosophy with Christian doctrine, providing early evidence of Hermetic ideas.

30 books · 1027 mentions

Common Sense (Sensus Communis)

In Aristotelian and early modern psychology, the internal faculty that integrates the data from the five external senses into a unified perception. It was considered a vital link between the physical body and the higher rational soul.

29 books · 536 mentions

Center of the Earth

In Aristotelian and alchemical cosmology, the point toward which all heavy elements gravitate and the location of the central fire or the 'vitriol' of the philosophers.

28 books · 569 mentions

Caesar

Referring typically to Julius Caesar, the Roman general and statesman whose life and death marked a turning point in Roman history. In early modern texts, he is often cited as a paragon of political power and military genius.

28 books · 537 mentions

Cleopatra

The last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, frequently appearing in early modern literature as a figure of both political intrigue and alchemical mystery. Some pseudo-epigraphical alchemical texts were even attributed to her.

26 books · 446 mentions

Calcutta

A major port city in eastern India that served as the capital of the British Raj, becoming a center for the 19th-century Bengal Renaissance and the study of Sanskrit texts.

26 books · 308 mentions

Chrysippus

A Greek Stoic philosopher who was influential in the development of logic and ethics, often cited in Renaissance texts for his views on fate and natural law.

25 books · 504 mentions

Circular Motion

A fundamental concept in Aristotelian and Ptolemaic physics, considered the perfect motion of celestial bodies and symbolizing the perfection of the divine intellect in esoteric thought.

25 books · 380 mentions

Chiromancy

The practice of palm reading or divination based on the lines and features of the hand, often integrated with astrology and physiognomy in early modern occult sciences.

24 books · 458 mentions

Cadmus

The legendary Phoenician prince who founded Thebes and introduced the alphabet to Greece, often interpreted in alchemy as a symbol of the transformation of matter.

24 books · 311 mentions

Cornelius Celsus

23 books · 983 mentions

Cornelius Tacitus

A senator and historian of the Roman Empire whose works are prized for their insights into the psychology of power and the decline of Roman liberty.

23 books · 469 mentions

Charles V

Holy Roman Emperor and King of Spain whose reign saw the rise of the Reformation and significant patronage of Renaissance arts and sciences.

23 books · 375 mentions

Chrysostom

John Chrysostom was an early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople renowned for his powerful oratory and influential liturgical contributions. He is a central figure in Patristics, frequently cited in early modern theological and historical treatises for his moral and exegetical authority.

22 books · 695 mentions

Constantine

The first Roman emperor to convert to Christianity, whose reign marked a pivotal transition for the Roman Empire and the Church. In esoteric contexts, he is often linked to the 'Donation of Constantine' or early Christian mysticism.

22 books · 332 mentions

Common Sense

In Aristotelian and Scholastic psychology, the internal faculty that integrates data from the five external senses into a unified perception.

22 books · 251 mentions

Cupid

The Roman god of desire, erotic love, and attraction, often depicted as the son of Venus and a central figure in Renaissance allegorical literature and art.

21 books · 539 mentions

Charlemagne

King of the Franks and Holy Roman Emperor, often mythologized in medieval and early modern texts as a defender of the faith and a patron of learning.

21 books · 425 mentions

Ceres

The Roman goddess of agriculture, grain crops, and motherly love, identified with the Greek Demeter. In alchemical and hermetic symbolism, she often represents the earth, fertility, and the 'vegetative' principle of nature.

21 books · 351 mentions

Charity

One of the three theological virtues, representing the highest form of love (agape) and central to mystical theology as the primary means of union with the Divine.

19 books · 572 mentions

Chastity

A moral virtue involving temperance and purity, frequently personified in medieval and Renaissance literature as a necessary condition for spiritual or alchemical perfection.

19 books · 505 mentions

Chios

A Greek island in the eastern Aegean Sea, historically significant as a center of commerce and the reputed birthplace of the poet Homer.

19 books · 309 mentions

Conjunction

In astronomy, the alignment of celestial bodies; in alchemy, the union of opposites, such as sulfur and mercury, often called the chemical wedding.

19 books · 287 mentions

Croesus

The king of Lydia in the 6th century BC, renowned for his immense wealth and serving as a moral exemplar of the instability of fortune in early modern literature.

19 books · 203 mentions

Contemplation

A state of deep spiritual or intellectual meditation, regarded in Neoplatonism and Christian mysticism as the highest form of human activity.

18 books · 694 mentions

Complexion

In pre-modern medicine and alchemy, the specific balance of the four humors and qualities (hot, cold, moist, dry) that determined an individual's temperament.

18 books · 362 mentions

Constantine the Great

The first Roman Emperor to convert to Christianity, whose Edict of Milan ended the persecution of Christians and fundamentally altered Western history.

18 books · 335 mentions

Copenhagen

The capital of Denmark and a vital hub for early modern science, particularly through its university and its association with the astronomer Tycho Brahe.

18 books · 283 mentions

Cornelius Agrippa

A German polymath, physician, and legal scholar whose Three Books of Occult Philosophy became a foundational text for Western esoteric tradition.

17 books · 319 mentions

Circe

A powerful enchantress from Greek mythology, daughter of Helios, known for transforming men into animals. In Renaissance philosophy and Giordano Bruno's works, she represents the power of nature and the transformative effects of the passions.

17 books · 254 mentions

Cappadocia

A historical region in central Anatolia known for its unique geological formations and its importance in early Christian history as the home of the Cappadocian Fathers.

17 books · 240 mentions

Cabala

A mystical and esoteric system of Jewish origin that was extensively adapted by Renaissance humanists and occultists into Christian and Hermetic frameworks.

17 books · 225 mentions

Claudius Ptolemy

A Greco-Egyptian mathematician and astronomer whose geocentric model and astrological 'Tetrabiblos' dominated Western science until the Copernican Revolution.

16 books · 612 mentions

Combustion

In astrology, the state of a planet when it is in close proximity to the Sun, which was traditionally believed to weaken its influence.

16 books · 403 mentions

Confucius

A Chinese philosopher and politician whose teachings, emphasizing morality, social harmony, and filial piety, were introduced to the West by Jesuit missionaries in the 17th century.

16 books · 330 mentions

Covenant

15 books · 356 mentions

Cosimo de' Medici

The first of the Medici political dynasty in Florence and a major patron of the arts and learning, notably sponsoring Marsilio Ficino's translation of the Corpus Hermeticum.

15 books · 267 mentions

Canada

A region in North America that, in early modern texts, represented the 'New World' and was a subject of interest for explorers, naturalists, and Jesuit missionaries.

15 books · 208 mentions