Illustration from Kircher’s “Arithmologia”

This engraving presents a square-based schematic centered on the name of Jesus, radiating outwards through concentric layers of theological and cosmological classifications. Each layer correlates groups of twelve, including the Apostles, the Tribes of Israel, the planetary spheres, the angelic hierarchy, and the foundations of the New Jerusalem. The diagram aligns these disparate elements into a unified system of Christian Neoplatonic and Kabbalistic number symbolism.

This work exemplifies Kircher's 'arithmology,' a syncretic pursuit seeking to demonstrate the mathematical harmony underlying both the physical cosmos and divine revelation. It reflects the late Renaissance obsession with the number twelve as a fundamental governing principle, bridging the gap between biblical prophecy and natural philosophy.