Encyclopedia

Hermes Trismegistus

A legendary syncretic figure combining the Greek Hermes and Egyptian Thoth, regarded as the foundational author of the Hermetic arts and sciences.

143 books · 3694 mentions

Homer

The legendary author of the Iliad and the Odyssey, whose epic poems were often interpreted allegorically by Neoplatonists and Renaissance occultists to contain hidden philosophical truths.

124 books · 3370 mentions

Hell

In theological and esoteric systems, the realm of punishment or spiritual darkness, often contrasted with the celestial spheres or interpreted as a state of internal psychological torment.

109 books · 3929 mentions

Hermes

Often identified with Hermes Trismegistus, the legendary syncretic figure of Greek and Egyptian origin credited as the author of the Hermetic corpus and the founder of alchemy.

99 books · 2821 mentions

Heraclitus of Ephesus

77 books · 1617 mentions

Hercules

The Roman adaptation of the Greek hero Heracles, frequently used in alchemical emblems to symbolize the 'Herculean labors' required for the completion of the Great Work.

69 books · 1467 mentions

Hungary

A Central European kingdom known for its rich mining traditions and as a significant region for the practice of alchemy and Paracelsian medicine.

64 books · 1364 mentions

Hesiod

An ancient Greek poet whose works, such as the Theogony, provided a foundational mythological framework for the origins of the gods and the cosmos.

48 books · 995 mentions

Hermetic Philosophy

A philosophical and religious tradition based primarily upon writings attributed to Hermes Trismegistus, emphasizing the pursuit of divine knowledge and the correspondence between the microcosm and macrocosm.

44 books · 934 mentions

Herodotus

An ancient Greek historian whose accounts of Egypt and the Near East provided early modern scholars with essential information about ancient religions.

40 books · 826 mentions

Horace

A leading Roman lyric poet whose works were frequently quoted by Renaissance humanists and esotericists for their moral insights and reflections on the human condition.

40 books · 789 mentions

Humors

The four bodily fluids (blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile) that formed the basis of Galenic medicine and determined temperament and health.

40 books · 638 mentions

Holland

A region in the Netherlands that became a significant center for printing, religious tolerance, and the dissemination of Rosicrucian and alchemical texts in the 17th century.

36 books · 797 mentions

Hamburg

A major Hanseatic port city in Northern Germany that served as a vital center for printing, commerce, and the dissemination of scientific and theological ideas.

35 books · 669 mentions

Herod

The Judean ruler known for his massive building projects and his role in the New Testament, often symbolizing worldly tyranny and opposition to the divine in theological texts.

32 books · 638 mentions

Hieroglyphics

The formal writing system used in Ancient Egypt, often interpreted in the Renaissance as a symbolic, mystical language containing hidden divine wisdom.

32 books · 606 mentions

Hermes (Hermes Trismegistus)

A legendary Hellenistic figure who represents a syncretism of the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian god Thoth, credited as the author of the Hermetic Corpus.

29 books · 618 mentions

Hermes (Trismegistus)

The legendary Hellenistic figure regarded as the author of the 'Corpus Hermeticum' and the founder of the Hermetic tradition. He was revered in the Renaissance as a 'Prisca Theologia' figure who anticipated Christian truths through ancient Egyptian wisdom.

29 books · 448 mentions

Hipparchus

A Greek astronomer and mathematician of the Hellenistic period, considered the founder of trigonometry and famous for discovering the precession of the equinoxes.

27 books · 901 mentions

Hadrian

A Roman Emperor known for his interest in architecture, the arts, and Hellenic culture, as well as his consolidation of the empire's borders. He appears in astronomical and architectural treatises as a historical reference for the era of Ptolemy and classical building standards.

24 books · 624 mentions

Hades

The ancient Greek underworld and the name of its ruler, representing the destination of souls and a realm of chthonic mysteries in classical and early modern thought.

23 books · 531 mentions

Heidelberg

A German city that served as a major center of the Protestant Reformation and later as a hub for Rosicrucian and Hermetic thought under the Palatinate. It was the site of the influential University of Heidelberg and the famous Hortus Palatinus.

22 books · 452 mentions

Hannibal

The Carthaginian general whose military exploits and eventual defeat were frequently used in early modern literature as examples of fortune and astrological destiny.

21 books · 444 mentions

Hezekiah

The 13th king of Judah, known for his religious reforms and defense against the Assyrian Empire, often cited in esoteric texts for his relationship with the prophet Isaiah and the 'Sun Dial of Ahaz.'

21 books · 422 mentions

Heresy

A belief or opinion contrary to orthodox religious doctrine, frequently discussed in early modern texts concerning the boundaries of natural philosophy, magic, and theology.

21 books · 259 mentions

Ham

A biblical figure and son of Noah, traditionally associated in early modern occultism with the origins of magic and the ancient wisdom of Egypt.

19 books · 480 mentions

Hermogenes

A name associated with several figures, including a 2nd-century rhetorician and a legendary alchemical authority mentioned in the 'Turba Philosophorum'. In alchemical texts, he is often grouped with Hermes Trismegistus as a transmitter of ancient wisdom.

18 books · 301 mentions

Hypocrisy

The practice of engaging in the same behavior or activity for which one criticizes another, frequently addressed in moral philosophy and theological treatises.

18 books · 283 mentions

Harmony

A central concept in Pythagorean and Neoplatonic philosophy referring to the proportional and musical order of the universe. It represents the reconciliation of opposites and the structural integrity of the macrocosm and microcosm.

18 books · 251 mentions

Halle

A German city that became a significant center for Pietism and Enlightenment thought in the late 17th and 18th centuries, hosting a renowned university.

17 books · 344 mentions

Hero of Alexandria

A Greek mathematician and engineer of the 1st century AD whose works on pneumatics and mechanics influenced Renaissance natural philosophy and the development of automata.

17 books · 319 mentions

Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa

A German polymath and occult philosopher whose 'Three Books of Occult Philosophy' synthesized Kabbalah, magic, and Neoplatonism.

17 books · 251 mentions

Hieroglyphs

The ancient Egyptian writing system, which early modern scholars often interpreted as mystical symbols containing hidden theological and philosophical truths.

16 books · 336 mentions

Habakkuk

A biblical prophet and author of the Book of Habakkuk, often cited in mystical works for his visions and the declaration that the just shall live by faith.

16 books · 276 mentions

Hosea

A Hebrew prophet whose symbolic marriage and messages regarding the covenant were frequently analyzed in mystical and theological commentaries.

16 books · 216 mentions

Horus

An ancient Egyptian deity representing the sky and kingship, often syncretized in Hermetic and Renaissance texts as a symbol of solar wisdom and divine protection.

15 books · 345 mentions

Humility

A moral virtue characterized by a modest view of one's own importance, central to Christian asceticism and the mystical path toward divine union.

15 books · 294 mentions

Holy Land

A region of immense religious significance to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. It was a central focus of pilgrimage, crusading ideology, and apocalyptic speculation throughout the medieval and early modern periods.

15 books · 288 mentions

Harmonic Proportion

A mathematical relationship where the reciprocal of three terms forms an arithmetic progression, central to Renaissance theories of musical tuning and cosmic order. It was used by thinkers like Kepler and Kircher to explain the 'harmony of the spheres' and the architectural proportions of the universe.

15 books · 275 mentions

Haly

Likely referring to Haly Abenragel, an influential Arab astrologer and physician whose works were foundational to medieval and Renaissance occult sciences.

15 books · 267 mentions

Heliopolis

An ancient Egyptian city dedicated to the sun god Ra, central to Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions regarding the origins of wisdom and theology.

15 books · 225 mentions

Heavenly Jerusalem

A spiritual or eschatological concept of the city of God, representing the ultimate state of divine communion and the culmination of the Christian mystical journey.

15 books · 177 mentions

Holy of Holies

The innermost sanctuary of the Tabernacle and later the Temple in Jerusalem, representing the most sacred space where the presence of God resided.

15 books · 163 mentions

Hagar

An Egyptian handmaid of Sarah and the mother of Ishmael in the Book of Genesis, often interpreted allegorically in mystical and theological commentaries.

14 books · 460 mentions

Heart

Regarded in both Western and Eastern traditions as the seat of the soul, the center of the microcosm, and the primary organ of spiritual perception and divine love.

14 books · 311 mentions

Holy Trinity

14 books · 265 mentions

Hugo Grotius

A Dutch humanist and jurist whose works on natural law laid the foundations for modern international law and significantly influenced Arminian theology.

14 books · 264 mentions

Hebron

An ancient city in the Levant significant in biblical history as the burial site of the patriarchs, often discussed in Kabbalistic and theological texts.

14 books · 261 mentions

Hellespont

A narrow strait in northwestern Turkey connecting the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara, historically significant as a boundary between Europe and Asia in classical texts.

14 books · 179 mentions

Helen

The daughter of Zeus and Leda whose abduction triggered the Trojan War; in Gnostic and Hermetic contexts, she often symbolizes the fallen soul or Ennoia.

13 books · 174 mentions

Hydrostatics

12 books · 211 mentions

Hypostasis

A fundamental term in Christian theology and Neoplatonism used to denote the underlying substance or individual reality of a thing, particularly regarding the persons of the Trinity.

12 books · 208 mentions

Hector

The Trojan prince and warrior cited in Renaissance literature and emblem books as a paragon of civic virtue and the tragic hero.

12 books · 199 mentions

Himalayas

A vast mountain range in Asia, often described in Eastern esoteric texts as the abode of gods and the site of spiritual retreats and hidden wisdom.

12 books · 188 mentions

Horizon

The apparent line separating earth from sky. In early modern astronomy and optics, it served as a fundamental reference for the celestial sphere and the study of light, shadow, and perspective.

12 books · 184 mentions

Hermes Trismegistus (Mercury)

A legendary Hellenistic figure combining the Greek god Hermes and the Egyptian Thoth, regarded as the founder of alchemy and the author of the Hermetic corpus.

12 books · 181 mentions

Hierocles

A 5th-century Neoplatonist philosopher from Alexandria, known for his commentary on the Golden Verses of Pythagoras and his efforts to reconcile philosophy with religious practice.

12 books · 166 mentions

Hippolytus

An early Christian theologian and martyr whose 'Refutation of All Heresies' provides essential insights into Gnosticism and ancient mystery cults.

12 books · 152 mentions