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THE GREEK QABALAH THE GREEK QABALAH Alphabetic Mysticism and Numerology in the Ancient World KIEREN BARRY ' @ SAMUEL WEISER INC. York Beach, Maine First published in 1999 by SAMUEL WEISER, INC. Box 612 York Beach, ME 03910-0612 www. weiserbooks. com Copyright © 1999 Kieren Barry All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from Samuel Weiser, Inc. Reviewers may quote brief passages. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Barry, Kieren. The Greek Qabalah : alphabetic mysticism and numerology in the ancient world / Kieren Barry. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references and index. ISBN 1-57863-110-6 (pbk. : alk. paper) 1. Numerology—Greece—History. 2. Greek language— Alphabet—History. 3. Cabala—History. I. Title. BF1623.P9B397 1999 133.3'35'0938—DC21 99-22783 CIP EB Typeset in 11 point Adobe Garamond Cover and text design by Kathryn Sky-Peck PRINTED IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 00 99 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 21 The paper used in this publication meets the minimum requirements of the American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Materials Z39.48-1992(R1997). C O N T E N TS List of Illustrations and Tables vii Acknowledgments xi Preface xiii History of the Alphabet i ONE The Alphabet as Number 19 TWO Pythagoras 27 THREE The Vowels and the Planets 35 FOUR The Consonants, FIVE the Elements, and the Zodiac 53 Symbolism of Individual Letters 63 SIX Oracles and Invocations 89 SEVEN EIGHT The Gnostics 105 NINE The Romans 127 The Christians 131 TEN The Neoplatonists 157 ELEVEN TWELVE The Jews 171 THIRTEEN Greek Qabalistic Exegesis 189 Conclusion 199 FOURTEEN APPENDIX I Tables of Correspondences 203 APPENDIX II Dictionary of Isopsephy 215 APPENDIX III Ancient Authors Cited 273 Selected Bibliography 277 Index of Numbers 284 Index 285 About the Author 296 v LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS A ND TABLES Figure 1. Linear B signs 2 Figure 2. Examples of Linear B signs with English translation 4 Figure 3. Ugaritic cuneiform alphabet 5 Figure 4. Some proto-Sinaic signs 6 Figure 5. Phoenician, Hebrew, and Aramaic scripts 8 Figure 6. Relationship between main scripts 10 Figure 7. Some archaic Greek alphabets from 8th-7th centuries B.C.E 12 Figure 8. Greek alphabet from a vase at Formello, north of Rome 15 Figure 9. Moabite stone inscription of King Mesha, circa 850 B.C.E 20 Figure 10. Milesian alphabetic numerals 22 Figure 11. Attic acrophonic numerals 22 Figure 12. Coins from Delphi with the letter E and the Temple of Apollo 40 Figure 13. Egyptian gem with Harpocrates and letters alpha and omega 67 Figure 14. Pythagoras' letter Y, representing moral choice ... 80 Figure 15. Early representations of the chi-rho from the catacombs 84 Figure 16. Egyptian gem with Harpocrates and 9999 formula 96 Figure 17. Gnostic gem with Abraxas and IAQ 101 vii LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS AND TABLES Figure 18. The Beast 666 of Revelation, by Albrecht Diirer . 144 Figure 19. Christian gem with alpha and omega and ΙΧΘΥΣ inscription 148 Figure 20. The 24 elders, the 7 lamps, and the 4 living creatures, by Albrecht Diirer 150 Figure 21. The conquests of Alexander the Great by 327 B.C.E 172 Figure 22. The Tree of Life showing various attributes 179 Table 1. Origins of Greek Alphabet in Phoenician Alphabet and Egyptian Hieroglyphics 204 Table 2. Numerical Values Ascribed to Greek Alphabet . . 206 Table 3. Angels and Magical Names Ascribed to Greek Alphabet 208 Table 4. Symbolism and Notarichon Ascribed to Greek Alphabet 210 Table 5. Parts of the Human Body, Zodiacal Signs, and Grammatical Groups Ascribed to Greek Alphabet 212 Table 6. Alphabetic and Other Correspondences Ascribed to Seven Planets 214 Table 7. Alphabetic and Other Correspondences Ascribed to Five Elements 214 viii