Pythagoras: His Life and Teaching, a Compendium of Classical Sources (20 page)

[“Hecate's missile”], being compounded of, and, as it were,
[“hurled forth”],† the triad which is called Hecate.
⁵⁰⁸

Trioditis:
from the nature of that goddess; or because the Hexad first assumes the three motions of intervals, being divided into two parts, each of which is on each side.
⁵⁰⁹

the distribution of all time, of things above the earth, and under the earth, which is done by the Hexad in the Zodiac. Or because Time is of the nature of the Triad, consisting of three parts, and the Hexad consists of two Triads.
⁵¹⁰

Persaea, Triform
.
⁵¹¹

Amphitrite
;
⁵¹²
because it has a triad on each side.
⁵¹³

Neighbor to Justice
,
⁵¹⁴
as being nearest to 5 (which is named Justice.
⁵¹⁵
)

Thalia
, the Muse,
⁵¹⁶
because of the harmony of the rest.
⁵¹⁷

Panacaea
,
⁵¹⁸
in respect to health mentioned already; or, a
Panarceia
(omni-sufficience, endued with parts sufficient for totality).
⁵¹⁹

Middle-Right
, being in the midst between two and ten, equidistant from both.
⁵²⁰

World
, because the world, as the Hexad, is often seen to consist of contraries by harmony.
⁵²¹

CHAPTER 11

T
HE
H
EPTAD

T
he Heptad was so called, quasi
worthy of veneration;
⁵²²
for Pythagoras held this number to be most proper to religion.
⁵²³
He also held that it is perfect.
⁵²⁴
And thence it was, as the Pythagoreans conceived, that creatures born in the seventh month live.
⁵²⁵

The names of the Heptad, are these.

Fortune, Occasion
,
⁵²⁶
because it occurs casually and opportunely to everything.
⁵²⁷
Whatsoever is best amongst sensible things, by which the seasons of the year and their periods are orderly complete. Participates of the Hebdomad,
⁵²⁸
the Moon having seven days, measures all time.
⁵²⁹

,
Motherless, Virgin,
⁵³⁰
Minerva
, as being a virgin, unmarried, not born of a mother (odd number), nor of a father (even number); but out of the crown of the father of all, Monad.
⁵³¹

Mars,
⁵³²
[“citadel”].
⁵³³

Ageleia
,
⁵³⁴
an epither of Minerva.
⁵³⁵

[“The Unwearied”]†.
⁵³⁶

Custody
,
⁵³⁷
because the stars which guard the universe are seven.
⁵³⁸

,
Tritogenia
,
[“Blue-eyed”],†
[“Protectress”],†
[“in full armor”],
[“worker”],†
[“much desired”],
[“sound of limbs“],†
Stock of Amalphea, Aegis, Osiris, Dream, Voice, Sound, Clio
the Muse,
Judgment, Adrastia
.
⁵³⁹