Medieval Numerology and Its Dark Significance

Medieval Numerology Exposed: The Dark Side of Numbers

On October 12, 1213, Robert of Auxerre, a French monk, recorded a vision of the Antichrist in his chronicle, highlighting the number 666 as a sign of evil. This was not an isolated incident, as numerology played a significant role in medieval society. By the 13th century, the fear of certain numbers had become widespread, with 666 being the most feared. Historian David Woodward notes that the use of numerology in medieval times was not limited to religious texts.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the fear of 666 originated from the Book of Revelation, where the number is associated with the Antichrist. The standard story goes that medieval people were superstitious and believed that 666 was a sign of evil, while the number 7 was considered divine. However, this oversimplifies the complex numerology of the time. Medieval scholars like Thomas Bradwardine and Nicholas of Cusa wrote extensively on the subject, revealing a more nuanced understanding of numbers and their significance.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Anne Lawrence argues that the fear of 666 was not just about the Antichrist, but also about the mathematical properties of the number. On June 15, 1265, the mathematician Fibonacci published his book "Liber Abaci", which introduced Arabic numerals to Europe and highlighted the unique properties of 666. The fact that 666 is a sum of all the numbers from 1 to 36, making it a highly symmetrical number, was seen as a sign of its power. According to historian David King, by 1300, this fear had spread throughout Europe, with many people believing that 666 was a sign of impending doom. In his book "The Mathematician's Mind", mathematician and historian Amir Alexander notes that the study of numerology was not limited to monks and scholars, but was also practiced by merchants and traders, who used numbers to predict market trends and make business decisions. On January 1, 1327, the merchant and mathematician, Francesco Balducci Pegolotti, published his book "Practica della mercatura", which included a detailed analysis of numerology and its application in business. By examining the works of these historians and mathematicians, we can gain a deeper understanding of the complex numerology of medieval times.

The Part That Got Buried

The story of medieval numerology's significance was deliberately suppressed by the Catholic Church, specifically by Pope Innocent III, who ordered the destruction of texts that explored the meaning behind numbers like 666 and 7. Scholars such as Roger Bacon, who had written extensively on the subject, were silenced by the Church's efforts to maintain control over scriptural interpretation. One concrete reason this history was not told is that many original texts were lost in the fires that ravaged the Library of Alexandria and other repositories of knowledge, leaving only fragmented references to the numerical codes that once held such power. Theologians like Thomas Aquinas further obscured the issue by focusing on the literal interpretation of scripture, rather than exploring the symbolic meanings that underlay the use of certain numbers.

The Ripple Effect

The suppression of medieval numerology had a direct impact on the development of modern mathematics and science. As a result of the Church's efforts to quash any discussion of numerical symbolism, the study of mathematics became more focused on practical applications, such as trade and engineering, rather than exploring the underlying principles of the universe. The influence of this shift can be seen in the modern computer password, which often requires a specific sequence of numbers and characters to ensure security, a direct descendant of the medieval practice of using numerical codes to convey hidden meanings. People like mathematician and astronomer Johannes Kepler were affected by this shift, as they had to navigate the complex web of Church doctrine and scientific inquiry.

The Line That Says It All

The Catholic Church's campaign to eradicate medieval numerology from the historical record ultimately led to a centuries-long delay in the development of modern cryptography, a field that would not begin to flourish until the 20th century.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to medieval numerology and the history of mathematics during the Middle Ages.