Encyclopedia

Mount Horeb

The biblical mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments, frequently invoked in esoteric texts as a symbol of divine revelation and the ascent to spiritual knowledge.

7 books · 144 mentions

Marius

A Roman general and statesman whose life and political reforms were frequently cited in early modern historical and moral treatises.

7 books · 141 mentions

Messiah

The promised deliverer in Abrahamic traditions, whose coming is central to the eschatological hopes of Judaism, Christianity, and various mystical movements.

7 books · 134 mentions

Mausoleum

Originally referring to the grand tomb of Mausolus at Halicarnassus, the term came to denote any large and stately building housing a tomb. It represents the intersection of architectural grandeur and the commemoration of the dead.

7 books · 127 mentions

Mithila

A historical and cultural region in the northern Indian subcontinent, known as a major center of learning, philosophy, and the development of the Navya-Nyaya school of logic.

7 books · 124 mentions

Moravia

A historical region in Central Europe that served as a significant center for religious reform, education, and the development of early modern pedagogical theories.

7 books · 119 mentions

Mystical Theology

A branch of theology focusing on the direct, experiential knowledge of the divine, notably articulated by Pseudo-Dionysius the Areopagite.

7 books · 117 mentions

Material Pyramid

A cosmological concept in the works of Robert Fludd representing the descending hierarchy of matter from the earth upward, which intersects with the formal pyramid of light.

7 books · 113 mentions

Malwa

A historical region in west-central India, significant as a center of political power and intellectual activity, particularly under the Paramara dynasty.

7 books · 108 mentions

Marathon

A plain in Greece famous for the 490 BCE battle where the Athenians defeated the Persians, frequently referenced in classical and Renaissance texts.

7 books · 103 mentions

Machaon

A son of Asclepius in Greek mythology, often cited in medical and Paracelsian texts as a legendary healer and surgeon.

7 books · 101 mentions

Mysterium Magnum

A term used by Paracelsus and Jacob Boehme to describe the 'Great Mystery' or the primordial chaos/matrix from which all things were created by the divine word.

7 books · 96 mentions

Metallurgy

The science and technology of metals, which was inextricably linked with alchemy and practical chemical knowledge in the early modern period.

7 books · 95 mentions

Mercury (Hermes Trismegistus)

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

7 books · 95 mentions

Medicine

A discipline encompassing both the physical healing of the body and the philosophical pursuit of longevity and spiritual restoration in early modern thought.

7 books · 93 mentions

Military Discipline

The system of rules and training for armed forces, discussed by humanists as a virtue essential for the stability and order of the state.

7 books · 87 mentions

Melanchthon

A German Lutheran reformer and collaborator with Martin Luther, known as the 'Praeceptor Germaniae' for his systematic approach to theology and education.

7 books · 83 mentions

Microcosm (Lesser world)

The philosophical concept that the human being is a miniature reflection of the entire universe, containing all its elements and celestial influences.

7 books · 79 mentions

Mediator

A central figure in theological and philosophical systems who acts as an intermediary between the divine and the created world, often identified with Christ or the Logos.

7 books · 67 mentions

Manilius

Marcus Manilius, a Roman poet and astrologer of the 1st century AD, author of the 'Astronomica', which was a foundational text for Renaissance astrology and Neoplatonism.

7 books · 61 mentions

Marcus Manilius

A Roman poet of the 1st century AD whose didactic poem 'Astronomica' is one of the most important surviving texts on ancient astrology.

7 books · 57 mentions

Matter

The fundamental substance of the physical world, debated by natural philosophers regarding its relationship to form, spirit, and the underlying structure of reality.

7 books · 31 mentions

Momentum

Historically, a term used in classical mechanics to describe the quantity of motion of a moving body, extensively explored in the notebooks of Leonardo da Vinci and later formalized by Newton. In early modern physics, it often overlapped with the concept of 'impetus'.

6 books · 202 mentions

Mathematical Astronomy

The branch of science concerned with using geometric models and numerical calculations to predict the positions and motions of celestial bodies. During the Renaissance, it evolved from the Ptolemaic tradition toward the heliocentric and elliptical models of Copernicus and Kepler.

6 books · 192 mentions

Maria

An early alchemist and legendary figure in Hermetic tradition, credited with inventing several chemical apparatuses, including the bain-marie.

6 books · 173 mentions

Mirror writing

A form of writing where the characters are written in reverse direction, appearing normal when viewed in a mirror, most famously practiced by Leonardo da Vinci in his private notebooks. It has been interpreted variously as a method of secrecy or a consequence of his left-handedness.

6 books · 163 mentions

Meridian

An imaginary great circle on the Earth's surface passing through the North and South Poles, used as a reference line in geography and astronomy.

6 books · 162 mentions

Mausolus

A ruler of Caria whose magnificent tomb at Halicarnassus became one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the etymological origin of the word 'mausoleum'.

6 books · 144 mentions

Metallic Seed

The alchemical concept of a generative principle or 'sperma' within metals that facilitates their growth and transmutation.

6 books · 143 mentions

Mummy

A medicinal substance derived from embalmed human remains, highly valued in Paracelsian medicine for its supposed vital properties.

6 books · 130 mentions

Mercury of the Wise

A fundamental alchemical concept representing the 'philosophical mercury,' a refined spiritual principle necessary for the creation of the Philosopher's Stone.

6 books · 123 mentions

Manuscript Codices

Handwritten books produced before the invention of the printing press, serving as the primary medium for transmitting esoteric and classical knowledge through the Middle Ages.

6 books · 109 mentions

Miriam

The sister of Moses and Aaron in the Hebrew Bible, sometimes associated in alchemical tradition with Mary the Prophetess, the legendary founder of practical alchemy.

6 books · 104 mentions

Milo of Croton

A legendary Greek wrestler from the 6th century BC, frequently cited in early modern literature as an exemplar of physical strength and the dangers of hubris.

6 books · 103 mentions

Mytilene

The capital of the island of Lesbos, significant in antiquity for its culture, its architectural grid plan, and as a center of Aeolic learning.

6 books · 103 mentions

Meteors

In the Aristotelian and early modern sense, this term referred to all atmospheric phenomena, including rain, wind, and lightning, rather than just falling stars. Meteorology was the study of these sublunary changes.

6 books · 100 mentions

Manumission

The formal act of freeing a slave, discussed in classical legal, philosophical, and astrological contexts regarding social status and the influence of fate.

6 books · 99 mentions

Matrix

In Paracelsian and alchemical thought, the generative 'womb' or medium (such as the Earth or the uterus) in which the seeds of life or minerals are gestated.

6 books · 97 mentions

Midheaven

The point in the sky where the ecliptic crosses the local meridian, representing the highest point of a planet's daily path and a key house in astrology.

6 books · 94 mentions

Mammon

A term derived from the New Testament representing wealth or avarice, often personified in medieval and Renaissance demonology as a prince of Hell.

6 books · 94 mentions

Magnetic virtue

A term used in early modern natural philosophy, most notably by William Gilbert and Johannes Kepler, to describe the invisible force of attraction exerted by magnets. Kepler famously used the concept as a physical analogy for the force that drives planetary motion.

6 books · 93 mentions

Movable, Fixed, and Dual signs

A classification of the twelve zodiac signs into three modalities (Chara, Sthira, and Dwisvabhava) describing their dynamic nature and timing.

6 books · 91 mentions

Muhurta (Auspicious moment)

A specific time interval in Hindu astrology deemed auspicious or inauspicious for the commencement of important activities.

6 books · 91 mentions

Madhava

Likely referring to Madhava of Sangamagrama, a pioneering mathematician-astronomer of the Kerala school who developed early concepts of calculus and infinite series.

6 books · 87 mentions

May dew

Dew collected in the early morning of May, believed by alchemists to contain a concentrated celestial spirit or universal solvent.

6 books · 86 mentions

Music

6 books · 85 mentions

Mitylene

The capital of the island of Lesbos, significant in Greek intellectual history as a center of learning and the home of figures like Sappho and Alcaeus.

6 books · 83 mentions

Mount Heng

One of the Five Sacred Mountains of China, located in Hunan Province (Heng Shan), historically significant as a site for Taoist pilgrimage and botanical collection. It is distinct from the northern Mount Heng in Shanxi.

6 books · 83 mentions

Mount Vesuvius

A somma-stratovolcano on the Gulf of Naples, frequently cited in early modern natural philosophy as a primary example of subterranean fire and geological activity.

6 books · 80 mentions

Menander

A Greek dramatist and the best-known representative of Athenian New Comedy, frequently cited by humanists for his ethical maxims.

6 books · 79 mentions

Master of the Sentences (Peter Lombard)

A 12th-century theologian whose 'Sentences' became the standard textbook of Catholic theology at medieval universities.

6 books · 79 mentions

Marcellus

Refers to Marcus Claudius Marcellus, the Roman general or his nephew, often cited in classical and early modern texts as an exemplar of fate and Roman history.

6 books · 76 mentions

Monte Cassino

A rocky hill in Italy, southeast of Rome, famous for being the site of the first monastery of the Benedictine Order, founded by Benedict of Nursia. It was a major center of learning and manuscript preservation throughout the Middle Ages.

6 books · 76 mentions

Microcosm (Small World)

The philosophical concept that the human being is a miniature reflection of the entire universe, central to Hermetic and Paracelsian thought.

6 books · 75 mentions

Maximus

A 4th-century Neoplatonist philosopher and thaumaturge who served as a teacher and advisor to the Roman Emperor Julian. He is a central figure in the history of late antique theurgy and the survival of Hellenistic mystery traditions.

6 books · 72 mentions

Malefic planets

In traditional astrology, planets considered to have a naturally harmful or restrictive influence, primarily Saturn and Mars.

6 books · 71 mentions

Messiah

In the context of Western esotericism and Kabbalah, the promised redeemer of mankind, often interpreted through mystical frameworks like the Sephirot or Christian Kabbalistic exegesis. Figures like Pico della Mirandola sought to prove Christian doctrines of the Messiah using Jewish mystical texts.

6 books · 69 mentions

Mao Yuanyi (Author)

A Ming dynasty military theorist and scholar, best known for compiling the 'Wubei Zhi' (Treatise on Armament Technology), the most comprehensive military encyclopedia in Chinese history. His work preserves significant maps and technical knowledge of the era.

6 books · 68 mentions