A Discourse on Anagrams as a Part of the Cabala

CHAPTER III.

That the likeness of Anagrammatism is found in Holy Scripture from an ancient origin: but in an improper sense, and through Substitution; which Julius Caesar and Augustus later used. On isopsephic Greek: ἰσόψηφα (isopsēpha). This refers to words where the sum of the numerical values of the letters is equal. names.

The origin of Anagrammatism is most ancient, appearing either alongside the invention of Letters or immediately thereafter. The Holy Oracles A common Renaissance term for the books of the Bible. themselves are in some places covered by this cloak; indeed, they are distinguished by this ornament so that, because they are hidden, they appear more divine. An example is found in the Prophet Jeremiah, chapter 25: And the King of SESACH shall drink the cup of the wine of fury. Jeremiah 25:26. "Sesach" (or Sheshach) is a cipher for Babylon. Which King? The King of Babylon: but he was deceived by the hiding-place of letters, lest, being provoked by holy threats, he might cause harm. For the word בבל Babel Babylon was transformed into ששך Sesach by an Anagrammatism (unless it is rather a Metathesis A technical term for the transposition of sounds or letters within a word.) commonly used by the Hebrews. For they are accustomed to substitute the last letter of their alphabet for the first, the second-to-last for the second, the third-to-last for the third, and so on, as Saint Jerome Jerome (c. 347–420 AD), the Church Father who translated the Bible into Latin (the Vulgate). noted here. This system also prevailed among the Greeks and Romans, though in various different arrangements; it was familiar to Julius Caesar and Octavian Augustus. Julius indeed placed D for A, E for B, F for C, and likewise the remaining letters at a four-fold interval. Augustus, for the ne-