Theology of Arithmetic

Theology of Arithmetic

Author	Iamblichus
Illustrator
Country	Roman Empire
Language	Greek
Subject	Philosophy
Pages

The Theology of Arithmetic is a work written by Iamblichus.

Below are the Pythagorean titles of the first ten numbers, from the Theology of Numbers by Iamblichus, translated by David R. Fideler. Source: Fideler (1987: 321-325).

1

• Instrument of Truth
• Obscure
• Not-Many
• A Chariot
• Male-Female
• Immutable Truth and Invulnerable Destiny
• A Seed
• Fabricator (demiurge)
• True Happiness (eudaimonia)
• Zeus
• Life
• God
• The Equality in Increase and Decrease
• Memory
• A Ship
• Essence (ousia)
• The Inkeeper (pandokeus), “that which takes in all”
• The Pattern or Model (paradeigma)
• The Moulder
• Prometheus
• The First (Proteus)
• Darkness
• Blending
• Commixture
• Harmony (symphonia)
• Order (taxis)
• Materia
• A Friend
• Infinite Expanse (chaos)
• Space-Producer

2

• Inequality
• Indefinite (aoristos)
• The Unlimited (apeiron)
• Without Form or Figure
• Growth
• Birth
• Judgment
• Appearance
• Anguish
• The Each of Two
• Falling Short, Defect
• Erato
• Equal
• Isis
• Movement
• The Ratio (logos) in Proportion (analogia)
• Revolution
• Distance
• Impulse
• Excess
• The Thing with Another
• Rhea (the wife of Kronos, but also “flow”)
• Selene
• Combination
• That Which is To Be Endured; Misery, Distress
• Boldness, Audacity (tolma)
• Matter
• Obstinacy
• Nature

3

• Proportion (analogia)
• Harmonia
• Marriage
• Knowledge (gnosis)
• Peace
• Every Thing
• Hecate
• Good Counsel
• Piety
• The Mean Between Two Extremes
• Oneness of Mind
• The All
• Perfection
• Friendship
• Purpose

4

• Nature of Change
• Righteousness
• Hercules
• Holding the Key of Nature

5

• Alteration
• Immortal
• Androgyny
• Lack of Strife
• Aphrodite
• Boubastia (named after the Egyptian divinity Boubastis)
• Wedding
• Marriage
• Double
• Manifesting Justice
• Justice
• Demigod
• Nemesis
• Pallas
• Five-Fold
• Forethought
• Light

6

• Resembling Justice
• The Thunder-Stone
• Amphitrite (Poseidon’s wife; a verbal pun: on both sides [amphis] three [trios])
• Male-Female
• Marriage
• Finest of All
• In Two Measures
• Form of Forms
• Peace
• Far-Shooting (name of Apollo)
• Thaleia
• Kosmos
• Possessing Wholeness
• Cure-All (panacea)
• Perfection
• Three-Fold
• Health
• Reconciling

7

• The Forager (epithet of Athena)
• Athena
• Citadel (akropolis)
• Reaper
• Hard to Subdue Defence
• Due Measure (kairos)
• Virgin (parthenos)
• Revered Seven (septas + sebomai = heptas)
• Bringing to Completion (Telesphorus)
• Fortune, Fate
• Preserving

8

• Untimely Bom
• Steadfast
• Seat or Abode
• Euterpe
• Cadmia
• Mother
• All Harmonious

9

• Brother and Consort of Zeus
• Helios
• Absence of Strife
• Far-Working (epithet of Apollo)
• Hera
• Hephaestus
• Maiden (kore)
• Of the Kouretes
• Assimilation
• Oneness of Mind
• Horizon (because it limits the series of units before returning to the Decad)
• Crossing or Passage
• Prometheus
• Consort and Brother
• Perfection
• Bringing to Perfection (Telesphorus)
• Terpsichore
• Hyperion
• Oceanus

10

• Eternity (aeon)
• Untiring
• Necessity
• Atlas
• Fate
• Helios
• God
• Key-Holding
• Kosmos
• Strength
• Memory
• Ourania
• Heaven
• All
• All Perfect
• Faith
• Phanes

References

• Guthrie, Kenneth Sylvan; Fideler, David R. (1987). The Pythagorean Sourcebook and Library. Grand Rapids, MI: Phanes Press. ISBN 0-933999-50-X. Search this book on

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