THE HIEROGLYPHIC MONAD

BY JOHN DEE, OF LONDON,

TO

MAXIMILIAN, BY THE GRACE OF GOD,

THE MOST WISE KING OF THE

ROMANS, BOHEMIA, AND HUNGARY.

Maximilian II (1527–1576) was the Holy Roman Emperor to whom Dee dedicated this work, hoping to find a patron for his "universal" science.

FIRE
AIR
These labels appear on the columns of the architectural border, representing the elemental foundations of the natural world.

Text on the scrolls surrounding the central Hieroglyphic Monad symbol

Left side (reading downward)

HE BECOMES
KING AND
HIGH PRIEST,
PARENT OF THE
PLANETS,
IN
WHOM
ALL

Right side (reading upward from bottom)

THINGS [STAND]
BY A STABLE PLAN,
BORN
WITH THE POINT/SHARPNESS
OF 4: 1:
A:
N:
original: "CVMINE" for "ACVMINE". The numbers and letters (4, 1, A, N) refer to Dee's complex numerological and alchemical theories regarding the structure of the Monad symbol.

original: "DE RORE CAELI, ET PINGVEDINE TERRAE..." This biblical blessing from Isaac to Jacob was a common alchemical metaphor for the spiritual and physical components of the "Great Work."

For the use of Father Clavius

original: "ad Vsum P. Clavij". This refers to Christopher Clavius (1538–1612), the Jesuit astronomer who led the Gregorian calendar reform. His ownership suggests the high intellectual regard for Dee’s mathematical mysticism at the time.