The Numbers Don't Lie: Joel Kalvesmaki on 'Pythagorean' Number
Whenever anyone does something other than arithmetic with numbers, the name Pythagoras tends to crop up. Exactly how this strange situation came about is a fascinating story, and Dr Kalvesmaki has done groundbreaking work on the subject. This episode is a superb introduction to the origins of ‘gema
Primary Sources
Abraxas, or the Unbelieving Believer
Jean Macarius’s 'Abraxas' is a masterpiece of early modern antiquarian scholarship, offering a rare, deep dive into the material culture of the Gnostic 'heretics' and their 'barbaric' words of power. While the text catalogs the terrifying, syncretic iconography of Basilidian amulets, it simultaneous
The Theology of Arithmetic
In this profound synthesis of Pythagorean and Platonic thought, edited by Friedrich Ast, mathematics is reclaimed from the realm of 'logistics' and elevated to a sacred theology. The text argues that numbers are not mere human inventions but the eternal, immaterial blueprints—the 'pre-existent sketc
Abraxas Gems
Bellermann treats these artifacts as puzzles of history rather than magical relics. He strips away the mystery surrounding the Abraxas figures and the Urim and Thummim to reveal the rational intentions of the ancients. By linking Gnostic cosmology to the administration of the Berlin-Cölln Gymnasium,
Pistis Sophia
The 'Pistis Sophia' is a profound 4th-century Gnostic gospel that challenges traditional narratives, presenting a transfigured Jesus who reveals 'higher mysteries' to disciples like Mary Magdalene and Martha. This edition, meticulously preserved by scholars like Petermann and Woide, serves as a gate
Abraxas: Studies in the History of Religion
Albrecht Dieterich reveals how ancient people actually lived their religion through the lens of forgotten magical papyri. He argues that Gnosticism and Orphic mystery cults were not intellectual abstractions, but direct outgrowths of pagan magic. The author proves that the divine was experienced thr
Pistis Sophia: A Gnostic Gospel
G.R.S. Mead’s translation of the Pistis Sophia offers a profound window into Gnosticism, presenting a cosmic drama of fall and redemption that centers on the suffering and thirteen repentances of Sophia. Mead argues that these texts are not mere 'libertine' heresies, but sophisticated philosophical