Encyclopedia

Phantasms

Mental images or sensory perceptions produced by the imagination, often discussed in Neoplatonic and early modern psychology regarding the nature of memory and vision.

20 books · 242 mentions

Platonists

Adherents of the philosophy of Plato, particularly influential in the Renaissance through the revival of Neoplatonic metaphysics and theurgy.

20 books · 221 mentions

Pausanias

A 2nd-century AD Greek traveler and geographer whose 'Description of Greece' provides crucial eyewitness accounts of ancient religious sites, rituals, and mythology.

19 books · 332 mentions

Philolaus

A Pythagorean philosopher of the 5th century BCE who was the first to propose that the Earth was not the center of the universe, but moved around a central fire.

19 books · 325 mentions

Pompey

Gnaeus Pompeius Magnus, a leading Roman general and statesman of the late Republic and a member of the First Triumvirate. His life and conflicts with Julius Caesar are frequent subjects in Renaissance historical and political treatises.

19 books · 324 mentions

Phidias

An ancient Greek sculptor and architect, widely regarded in early modern scholarship as the pinnacle of classical artistic achievement and divine proportion.

19 books · 294 mentions

Pontus

An ancient region on the southern coast of the Black Sea, significant in classical history and mythology, and often mentioned in early modern geographical surveys.

19 books · 270 mentions

Peripatetics

Followers of the philosophical school of Aristotle, so named for the covered walkways of the Lyceum where they gathered and taught.

19 books · 260 mentions

Prophecy

The inspired declaration of divine will or the prediction of future events, a central concern in both biblical theology and the mantic arts.

18 books · 207 mentions

Pharisees

A Jewish social-religious movement and school of thought in the Holy Land during the Second Temple period. In early modern theological texts, they are often used as archetypes of legalism in contrast to spiritual or esoteric Christianity.

17 books · 515 mentions

Parashara

An ancient Indian sage and the legendary author of foundational texts in Jyotisha (Vedic astrology), most notably the Brihat Parashara Hora Shastra.

17 books · 503 mentions

Posidonius

A Greek Stoic philosopher, politician, and polymath of the 1st century BCE whose work influenced later Roman thought in geography, astronomy, and ethics.

17 books · 298 mentions

Penelope

The wife of Odysseus in Greek mythology, celebrated in early modern literature as a paragon of marital fidelity, patience, and domestic virtue.

17 books · 252 mentions

Parvati

A major Hindu goddess representing the creative power of the universe (Shakti) and the consort of Shiva, central to the dialogues of many Tantric and Agamic texts.

17 books · 247 mentions

Petrarch

An Italian scholar and poet who was one of the earliest humanists, often called the 'Father of Humanism.' His rediscovery of Cicero's letters and his influential sonnets helped initiate the 14th-century Renaissance.

16 books · 555 mentions

Planetary Hours

A system of timekeeping where each hour of the day and night is governed by one of the seven traditional planets, used for astrological and magical timing.

16 books · 376 mentions

Perseus

A legendary hero in Greek mythology who slew Medusa, often interpreted in alchemical and hermetic literature as a symbol of the soul's triumph over material corruption.

16 books · 293 mentions

Phoenix

A mythical bird that cyclically regenerates from its own ashes, frequently employed in alchemical literature to symbolize the final stage of the transmutation process.

16 books · 279 mentions

Philip of Macedon

King Philip II of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great, frequently cited in Renaissance humanist literature as a model of statesmanship and military strategy.

16 books · 261 mentions

Primum Mobile

In the Ptolemaic geocentric model, the outermost moving sphere that imparts motion to all the inner celestial spheres.

16 books · 257 mentions

Pan

The Greek god of the wild, shepherds, and nature, frequently allegorized in Renaissance Neoplatonism as a symbol of the universal 'All' or the anima mundi.

16 books · 255 mentions

Phrygia

An ancient kingdom in central Anatolia, historically significant for its influence on Greek music, myth, and the ecstatic cult of the Great Mother, Cybele.

16 books · 195 mentions

Perspective

15 books · 450 mentions

Perpetual motion

The concept of a machine that can work indefinitely without an external energy source, a major pursuit in early modern natural philosophy and mechanical esotericism.

15 books · 321 mentions

Phantasy

The psychological faculty responsible for the formation and retention of mental images, bridging the gap between sensory perception and intellectual understanding.

15 books · 251 mentions

Precession of the Equinoxes (Ayanamsha)

15 books · 249 mentions

Paris

In Greek mythology, the son of King Priam of Troy, whose elopement with Helen of Sparta was the immediate cause of the Trojan War.

15 books · 210 mentions

Prime Mover

The first cause of all motion in the universe, which moves other things but is itself unmoved, a central concept in Aristotelian cosmology.

15 books · 159 mentions

Pappus of Alexandria

14 books · 343 mentions

Philip

Often referring to Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim (Paracelsus) in alchemical contexts, or the biblical Apostle Philip in theological works.

14 books · 336 mentions

Plautus

A Roman playwright whose comedies were widely read and adapted during the Renaissance, influencing the development of European drama and Latin education.

14 books · 226 mentions

Philostratus

Refers typically to Philostratus the Athenian, author of the 'Life of Apollonius of Tyana', a text central to early modern discussions of magic and theurgy.

14 books · 205 mentions

Provence

A region in southeastern France that served as a vital cultural crossroads for troubadour poetry, medieval mysticism, and early Renaissance humanism.

14 books · 204 mentions

Piety

A virtue characterized by religious devotion or a strict adherence to religious practices, often discussed as a prerequisite for divine illumination in mystical traditions.

14 books · 171 mentions

Philalethes

A pseudonym used by several alchemical writers, most notably Eirenaeus Philalethes, the 17th-century author of influential works on the Philosopher's Stone.

13 books · 251 mentions

Perugia

An Italian city and center of learning, significant in the Renaissance for its university and its role as a hub for legal and humanistic scholarship.

13 books · 229 mentions

Peter (Apostle)

One of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and a leader of the early Christian Church, often invoked in esoteric traditions as the holder of the keys to the kingdom and a symbol of faith.

13 books · 217 mentions

Phaethon

A figure from Greek mythology who attempted to drive the chariot of the sun; his failure served as a common Renaissance allegory for pride and intellectual overreach.

13 books · 200 mentions

Philosophy

The systematic study of fundamental questions regarding existence, knowledge, and ethics, often integrated with theology and natural science in early modern works.

13 books · 178 mentions

Pillars of Hercules

The ancient name for the promontories that flank the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar, symbolizing the limits of the known world.

13 books · 158 mentions

Provenance

The documented history of the ownership and custody of a historical object or text. In the study of rare manuscripts and alchemical treatises, it is essential for establishing authenticity and tracing the transmission of knowledge.

13 books · 149 mentions

Potentiality vs. Actuality

An Aristotelian philosophical distinction used to analyze change and motion, where potentiality is the capacity to be and actuality is the fulfillment of that capacity.

13 books · 146 mentions

Protagoras

A pre-Socratic Greek philosopher and Sophist famous for the dictum 'Man is the measure of all things,' whose ideas on relativism were debated by Plato and later humanists.

12 books · 484 mentions

Pericles

A prominent Greek statesman and general during the Golden Age of Athens, often cited in Renaissance humanist texts as a model of civic virtue and oratorical excellence.

12 books · 437 mentions

Proserpina

The Roman goddess of the underworld, whose myth was frequently allegorized in esoteric texts to represent the descent of the soul into the material realm.

12 books · 177 mentions

Persius

A Roman satirist whose Stoic-influenced poems were widely studied during the Renaissance for their moral critiques and philosophical depth.

12 books · 176 mentions

Phlebotomy (Bloodletting)

The medical practice of withdrawing blood to balance the humors, a cornerstone of Galenic medicine. It was a frequent subject of debate among Paracelsian and traditional physicians regarding its efficacy and spiritual implications.

12 books · 175 mentions

Pneumatics

The branch of natural philosophy and mechanics dealing with the properties of air and gases, often explored in early modern magic and engineering through the works of Hero of Alexandria.

12 books · 173 mentions

Physics

Historically known as natural philosophy, it is the study of the material world, motion, and the laws of nature prior to the modern specialization of the sciences.

12 books · 168 mentions

Patronage

The support, encouragement, and financial aid given by a person or organization to scholars, artists, and writers, fundamental to the production of early modern literature.

12 books · 122 mentions

Poverty of Spirit

11 books · 372 mentions

Pelican in her piety

11 books · 225 mentions

Phoebus

An epithet for the god Apollo, representing the sun and light, often used in alchemical poetry to symbolize the solar principle or gold.

11 books · 224 mentions

Peripatetic Philosophy

11 books · 211 mentions

Patmos

A Greek island in the Aegean Sea where Saint John the Apostle received the visions recorded in the Book of Revelation, a central site for Christian mysticism.

11 books · 175 mentions

Purification

A foundational ritual and spiritual process in esotericism and alchemy aimed at removing impurities from the soul or matter. In the Hermetic and Neoplatonic traditions, it is the necessary first step (katharsis) before illumination or union with the divine.

11 books · 161 mentions

Ptolemy Philadelphus

The second Pharaoh of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, known for his patronage of the Library of Alexandria and cited in Hermetic lore as a protector of ancient wisdom.

11 books · 153 mentions

Physiology

Originally the broad study of nature, it evolved into the specific study of the functions and mechanisms of the human body in early modern medicine.

11 books · 151 mentions