Jabir is often called "Father of Chemistry", because he was the first scholar to scientifically systematize that science, to whose theory and practice he made many noteworthy contributions. In spite of his leanings toward mysticism (he was considered a Sufi) and superstition, he more clearly recognized and proclaimed the importance of experimentation. "The first essential in chemistry," he declared, "is that you should perform practical work and conduct experiments, for he who performs not practical work nor makes experim ...

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Geber, Geber - Biography, Geber - Contributions to chemistry, Geber - Contributions to alchemy, Geber - Writings by Jabir, Geber - Translated work of Jabir

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The origins of the text are suitably mysterious. The Chaldean Oracles in the form in which they survive were attributed to Julian the Theurgist, who served in the Roman army during Marcus Aurelius' campaign against the Quadi. Julian claimed to have saved the Roman camp from fiery destruction by causing a rainstorm (Dillon, pp. 392-393). The circumstances surrounding the writing of the Oracles are mysterious, the most likely explanation being that Julian uttered them after inducing a sort of trance aki ...

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Chaldean Oracles, Chaldean Oracles - Origin, Chaldean Oracles - Importance of the Oracles, Chaldean Oracles - Chaldea, Chaldean Oracles - Metaphysics of the Oracles, Chaldean Oracles - Reference

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Alchemy encompasses several philosophical traditions spanning some four millennia and three continents. These traditions' general penchant for cryptic and symbolic language makes it hard to trace their mutual influences and "genetic" relationships. One can distinguish at least two major strands, which appear to be largely independent, at least in their earlier stages: Chinese alchemy, centered in China and its zone of cultural influence; and Western alchemy, whose center has shifted over the millennia between Egypt, Greece and Rome, t ...

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Alchemy, Alchemy - Overview, Alchemy - Alchemy as a proto-science, Alchemy - The changing goals of alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy and astrology, Alchemy - Alchemy in the age of science, Alchemy - Alchemy as a subject of historical research, Alchemy - Etymology, Alchemy - History, Alchemy - Alchemy in Ancient Egypt, Alchemy - Chinese alchemy, Alchemy - Indian alchemy, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Greek world, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Roman Empire, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Islamic world, Alchemy - Alchemy in Medieval Europe, Alchemy - Alchemy in the Modern Age and Renaissance, Alchemy - The decline of Western alchemy, Alchemy - Modern 'alchemy', Alchemy - Alchemy in art and entertainment, Alchemy - Literature, Alchemy - Music, Alchemy - Other alchemical pages, Alchemy - Related and alternative philosophies, Alchemy - Scientific connections, Alchemy - Substances of the alchemists, Alchemy - Other resources

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Most of the texts are presented in the form of a dialogue, a favorite form for didactic material in Antiquity. The subject-matter of Hermetic books is wide-ranging. Some deal with alchemy, magic, and related concepts. Others contain speculation reminiscent of gnosticism or Neoplatonism. Hermetica - Dating. While they are difficult to date with precision, the texts of the Corpus were li ...

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Hermetica, Hermetica - Character of the texts, Hermetica - Dating, Hermetica - Influences and style, Hermetica - Authorship and audience, Hermetica - Hermetica outside the corpus, Hermetica - The Corpus Hermeticum in the Renaissance, Hermetica - Contents of the Corpus Hermeticum

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To anyone who stands and looks at the sky, it seems clear that the earth stays in one place while everything in the sky goes around once every day. Observing over a longer time, one sees more complicated movements. The Sun makes a slower circle over the course of a year; the planets have similar motions, but they sometimes turn around and move in the reverse direction for a while (retrograde motion). As these motions became better understood, they required more and more elaborate descriptions, the most famous of which ...

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Heliocentrism, Heliocentrism - Development of the idea, Heliocentrism - Religious disputes over heliocentrism, Heliocentrism - The view of modern science, Heliocentrism - Modern use of geocentric and heliocentric

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Despite popular belief, Hecate was not originally a Greek goddess. She is unknown to Homer and in fact the earliest written references to her are in Hesiod's Theogony. The place of origin of her cult is uncertain, but it is thought (Burkert 1985 p171) that she had popular cult followings in Thrace. Her most important sanctuary was Lagina, a theocratic city-state in which the goddess was served by eunuchs (Burkert). Lagina, where the famous temple of Hecate drew great festal assemblies every year, lay in the originally-Macedonian colon ...

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Hecate, Hecate - Representations, Hecate - Mythology, Hecate - Relations in the Greek Pantheon, Hecate - Other names and epithets, Hecate - Goddess of the crossroads, Hecate - Goddess of sorcery, Hecate - Emblems, Hecate - Animals, Hecate - Plants and herbs, Hecate - Places, Hecate - Festivals, Hecate - Cross-cultural parallels, Hecate - Hecate in literature, Hecate - Hecate in popular culture, Hecate - Hecate in Modern Day Magic, Hecate - Queen of ghosts, Hecate - Bibliography

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Hermeneutics in the Western world, as a general science of text interpretation, can be traced back to two separate sources. One source was the ancient Greek rhetoricians' study of literature, which came to fruition in Hellenistic Alexandria. The other source has been the contemporary Midrash traditions of Biblical exegesis, that were contemporary with Hellenistic culture. Scholars in antiquity expected a text to be coherent, consistent in grammar, style and outlook, and they emended obscure or "decadent" readings to comply with their codified rules. By extending the perception of inherent logic of texts, Gre ...

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Hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Etymology, Hermeneutics - Biblical hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Medieval hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Renaissance hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutic traditions, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics in Law, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics in Sociology, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics of Schleiermacher and Dilthey, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics since Dilthey, Hermeneutics - Misuse

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One of the most popular and cited works on the Tarot was connected to this deity. Written by the infamous occultist Aleister Crowley, The Book of Thoth is a philosophical text on the usage of Tarot and, most notably, Crowley's own created Tarot Deck, the Thoth Tarot which he also referred to as The Book of Thoth, where the name is taken from a non-existent book in Egyptian mythology, believed to contain ancient knowledge originally brought to man by this deity. Crowley commissioned Lady Frieda Har ...

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Thoth, Thoth - Thoth in more recent times, Thoth - Thoth in media

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General article: Cult (religion). Though temples to Hermēs existed throughout Greece, a center of his cult was at Pheneos in Arcadia, where festivals in his honor were called Hermoea. As a crosser of boundaries, Hermēs Psychopompos' ("conductor of the soul") was a psychopomp, meaning he brought newly-dead souls to the underworld, Hades. In the Homeric Hymn to Demeter, Hermes conducts the Kore safely back to Demeter. He also br ...

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Hermes, Hermes - Cult, Hermes - Hermai, Hermes - Hermes' iconography, Hermes - Birth, Hermes - Hermēs' offspring, Hermes - Abderus, Hermes - Autolycus, Hermes - Hermaphroditus, Hermes - Priapus, Hermes - Other stories, Hermes - Herse/Aglaulus/Pandrosus, Hermes - Argus/Io, Hermes - Other roles, Hermes - Hermes in Islamic tradition

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In classical Rabbinical literature, there are divergent opinions of Enoch. After Christianity and Judaism had completely separated, the prevailing view regarding Enoch was that of Targum Pseudo-Jonathan, which thought of Enoch as a pious man, taken to heaven, and receiving the title of Safra rabba (Great scribe). However, while Christianity was in the process of detaching itself from Judaism, the Jewish view was often highly negative. In these views, for example held by Abbahu, Rashi, and Ibn Ezra, Enoch was held to frequently lapse in his piety, and thus re ...

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Enoch ancestor of Noah, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as a man rewarded for piety, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch in Freemasonry, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as a victim of the Angel of Death, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as Metatron, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as a Greek, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as Emmerduranki and Gilgamesh

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Some historical or legendary magicians, wizards, witches, or people who have been claimed to be so, are: List of occultists - Classical mythology:. Cassandra, oracle Circe, legendary sorceress Hecate, goddess of witchcraft Medea, legendary sorceress Semiramis, semi-legendary queen and sorceress List of occultists - Ancient world:. Apollonius of Tyana, wizard Apuleius ...

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List of occultists, List of occultists - Famous magicians:, List of occultists - Classical mythology:, List of occultists - Ancient world:, List of occultists - Mediæval Europe:, List of occultists - Renaissance:, List of occultists - Enlightenment and early modern period:, List of occultists - Nineteenth century:, List of occultists - Twentieth century:, List of occultists - People subjected to magical legends, List of occultists - Magical movements societies and organisations:, List of occultists - Rosicrucian Movements:, List of occultists - Other Mystical Movements:, List of occultists - Fictional wizards magicians and witches:

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Macrocosm/microcosm is a principle in Socratic/Platonic philosophy. The Republic, most of it of Socratic influence, is based on this fundamental principle. The Republic is a discussion originally about righteousness (justice) for man and what is it. At §368, Socrates mentions that this virtue is “spoken as a virtue of an individual, and sometimes as the virtue of the state” and that it would be easier to discern its essence if one looked at the State because it would have a larger quantity of it and then proceeding back down int ...

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Macrocosm and microcosm, Macrocosm and microcosm - Ancient thought, Macrocosm and microcosm - Medieval and modern thought, Macrocosm and microcosm - Bibliography

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The basic symbol for plurality among the ancient Egyptians was the number three: even the way they wrote the word for "plurality" in hieroglyphics consisted of three vertical marks ( | | | ). Triads of deities were also used in Egyptian religion to signify a complete system. Examples include references to the god Atum "when he was one and became three" when he gave birth to Shu and Tefnut, and the triad of Horus, Osiris, and Isis. See also:

Numbers in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Three: symbol of plurality, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the use of three in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Five: representation not listed, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the number five in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Seven: symbol of perfection effectiveness completeness, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the number seven in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Notes, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - General Sources

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One translation, by Isaac Newton, found among his alchemical papers, runs as follows: 1. Tis true without lying, certain & most true. 2. That wch is below is like that wch is above & that wch is above is like yt wch is below to do ye miracles of one only thing. 3. And as all things have been & arose from one by ye mediation of one: so all things have their birth from this one thing by adaptation. 4. The Sun is its father, the moon its mother, 5. the wind hath carried it in its bell ...

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Emerald Tablet, Emerald Tablet - The Tablet itself, Emerald Tablet - Textual history, Emerald Tablet - Influence, Emerald Tablet - External link, Emerald Tablet - Bibliography

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Marc Edmund Jones, founder of the Sabian Assembly, described them more or less accurately as "a Muslim group". They worship The Names (El-Esmea) as the stars. The whole debate on who the Sabians were is directly connected to the existence of the following verses from the Qur'an, the Holy Book of Islam. The Qur'an briefly announces the Sabians as people of the book and the Hadith provide further details as to who they were: "Those who believe, and the Jews, and the Christians, and the Sabians, whoever believes in God and the Last ...

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Sabians, Sabians - Islamic reference, Sabians - Sabi-Harran connections, Sabians - Sabi-Mandaean connections, Sabians - In the Bahá'í writings, Sabians - New-Age Sabians, Sabians - Conclusion

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Medieval interpretations of text incorporated exegesis in a fourfold mode that emphasized the distinction between the letter and the spirit of the text. This handy scheme of various ways of interpreting the text was handed down from Patristic programs of Late Antiquity. The literal sense (sensus historicus) of Scripture denotes what the text states or reports directly. The allegorical sense (sensus allegoricus) explains the text with regard to the doctrinal content of church dogma, as a manifestation in which each literal eleme ...

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Hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Etymology, Hermeneutics - Biblical hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Medieval hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Renaissance hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutic traditions, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics in Law, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics in Sociology, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics of Schleiermacher and Dilthey, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics since Dilthey, Hermeneutics - Misuse

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The discipline of hermeneutics emerged with the new humanist education of the 15th century as a historical and critical methodology for analyzing texts. In a triumph of early modern hermeneutics, the Italian humanist Lorenzo Valla proved in 1440 that the "Donation of Constantine" was a forgery, through intrinsic evidence of the text itself. Thus hermeneutics expanded from its medieval role explaining the correct analysis of the Bible. In the 19th century Wilhelm Dilthey's more historically conscious methodological hermeneutics sought to prod ...

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Hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Etymology, Hermeneutics - Biblical hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Medieval hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Renaissance hermeneutics, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutic traditions, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics in Law, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics in Sociology, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics of Schleiermacher and Dilthey, Hermeneutics - Hermeneutics since Dilthey, Hermeneutics - Misuse

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In Islamic traditions, there are varying accounts of Enoch's "death", which are thought to possibly contain traces of lost aggadahs. One account simply describes him as being on a visit to the Angel of Heaven, at a time the Angel of Death happened to be due to meet him, and so he died in the embrace of the Angel of Heaven, remaining in the 4th heaven forever. In other versions, Enoch is presented as a student of the knowledge given to him by the ...

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Enoch ancestor of Noah, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as a man rewarded for piety, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch in Freemasonry, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as a victim of the Angel of Death, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as Metatron, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as a Greek, Enoch ancestor of Noah - Enoch as Emmerduranki and Gilgamesh

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Any information you can find on the meanings of the number five in Egyptian mythology would be very helpful. Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the number five in Egyptian mythology. The second god, Re, named five gods and goddesses.[12] Thoth added five days to the year by winning the light from the moon in a game of gambling. ^{See also:}

Numbers in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Three: symbol of plurality, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the use of three in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Five: representation not listed, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the number five in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Seven: symbol of perfection effectiveness completeness, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Examples of the number seven in Egyptian mythology, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - Notes, Numbers in Egyptian mythology - General Sources

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As early as the time of Aristarchus, the heliocentric idea was denounced as being against religion. The issue did not assume any importance, however, for nearly 2,000 years. Nicolaus Copernicus published the definitive statement of his system in De Revolutionibus in 1543. Copernicus began to write it in 1506 and finished it in 1530, but did not publish it until the year of his death. Although he was in good standing with the Church and had dedicated the book to Pope Paul III, the published form contained an unsigned preface by ...

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Heliocentrism, Heliocentrism - Development of the idea, Heliocentrism - Religious disputes over heliocentrism, Heliocentrism - The view of modern science, Heliocentrism - Modern use of geocentric and heliocentric

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In modern times, she has become popular in Paganism and Wicca, largely due to her association as the goddess of sorcery. In modern Paganism Hecate can take numerous roles. Modern Neopagans, particularly Hellenistic sects in the United States, often view Hecate as a goddess of magic. Hecate is not seen as a necessarily benevolent goddess, and her favor is often seen as fickle. Hecate is thought to grant magical power to those who please her and sometimes punish those who displease her. Examples of punishment may include inflicti ...

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Hecate, Hecate - Representations, Hecate - Mythology, Hecate - Relations in the Greek Pantheon, Hecate - Other names and epithets, Hecate - Goddess of the crossroads, Hecate - Goddess of sorcery, Hecate - Emblems, Hecate - Animals, Hecate - Plants and herbs, Hecate - Places, Hecate - Festivals, Hecate - Cross-cultural parallels, Hecate - Hecate in literature, Hecate - Hecate in popular culture, Hecate - Hecate in Modern Day Magic, Hecate - Queen of ghosts, Hecate - Bibliography

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Queen of Ghosts a title associated with Hecate due to the belief that she can both prevent harm from leaving, but also allow harm to enter from the spirit world. Hecate thus has a role and special power in graveyards. This association also played a large part in the idea of Hecate as a lunar goddess. ...

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Hecate, Hecate - Representations, Hecate - Mythology, Hecate - Relations in the Greek Pantheon, Hecate - Other names and epithets, Hecate - Goddess of the crossroads, Hecate - Goddess of sorcery, Hecate - Emblems, Hecate - Animals, Hecate - Plants and herbs, Hecate - Places, Hecate - Festivals, Hecate - Cross-cultural parallels, Hecate - Hecate in literature, Hecate - Hecate in popular culture, Hecate - Hecate in Modern Day Magic, Hecate - Queen of ghosts, Hecate - Bibliography

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