THE HIEROGLYPHIC MONAD:

BY JOHN DEE, OF LONDON,

Explained mathematically, magically, cabalistically, and anagogically: Anagogically: relating to a spiritual or mystical interpretation that leads the mind toward divine or celestial matters. To

THE MOST WISE

KING OF THE ROMANS, BOHEMIA, AND HUNGARY,

MAXIMILIAN. Maximilian II (1527–1576), who became Holy Roman Emperor shortly after this work was published. Dee traveled to Pressburg (modern Bratislava) to personally present this book to him.

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THEOREM I.

Decorative woodcut initial P depicting floral motifs

Per the straight line and the circle, the first and simplest production and representation of things was brought to light, both of those not yet existing and of those hidden in the veils of Nature. Dee begins with the fundamental tools of Euclidean geometry—the compass (circle) and the straightedge (line)—proposing that all of creation can be expressed through these two forms.

THEOREM II.

But neither can a circle be skillfully made without a straight line, nor a straight line without a point. Therefore, by virtue of the point and the Monad original: "Monadisque". The Monad here refers to the concept of "Oneness" or the primary unit of existence., things first began to exist. And those things which are affected by a periphery (however great they may be) can in no way do without the service of the central point.

THEOREM III.

Therefore, the conspicuous central point of the HIEROGLYPHIC MONAD represents the EARTH, around which both the SUN and the MOON, and the rest of the planets, complete their courses. And in this function, because the SUN holds the highest dignity, we denote it (by excellence) with a complete circle and a visible center.