Medieval Number Symbolism: Its Sources, Meaning, and Influence on Thought and Expression

by Vincent Foster Hopper

For Dante and other people in the Middle Ages, numbers had a different set of connotations than they do for moderns. The symbolism of numbers was both widespread and profoundly ingrained in the culture. In this classic study, a noted scholar reveals “how deeply rooted in medieval thought was the consciousness of numbers, not as mathematical tools, nor yet as the counters in a game, but as fundamental realities, alive with memories and eloquent with meaning.”
For example, the number three — linked to the Trinity — was of special significance, and “endowed every repetition of the number three with a richness of meaning which can be but dimly grasped by the modern reader.” Numbers derived from constellations, planets, stellar revolutions, and other astronomical phenomena were also thought to have divine associations. These and many other aspects of the topic are illuminated here. In the first three chapters, the author examines the three main sources of number symbolism; basic, elementary symbols derived from man’s struggles to count and identify such natural groupings as fingers and toes; the ancient Babylonian science of astrology; and Pythagorean number theory, which fixed the relationship of the numbers to one another. The fourth and fifth chapters deal with the Gnostics’ elaborate combination of these elements, and the adoption and elaboration of number philosophy by the early Church Fathers. The last two sections examine medieval number philosophy and Dante’s use of number symbolism, particularly in The Divine Comedy.
Of special interest to medievalists, numerologists, and students of literature, this volume will also fascinate anyone interested in symbology or cultural aspects of the Middle Ages.

Genres: Mathematics, Medieval, History, Numerology, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1969

Reviews

[William Schrecengost · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. A history of Pythagorean numerology up to Dante. It has a brief discussion of numbers from an elementary and astrological perspective then moved into Pythagorean numerology and it’s development through Jewish commentators, the gnostics, and early church fathers, culminating in the Medievals and a final chapter on Dante’s use of numerology in his writings.
I found the whole fascinating. It’s definitely helpful to understand where the early church was basing so much of their numerological theories. I’m currently reading Irenaeus’ Against Heresies and this has helped me make sense of some of the gnostic theories in it. It is unfortunate that our church fathers were so steeped in Pythagorean numerology when doing their exegesis. It mislead them often and it would’ve been great if they had developed a biblical numerology at that time rather than adopting Pythagorean numerology.

[AC · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 stars simply because I was hoping for more in-depth analysis on influence post- middle ages, and because I personally am not a Dante scholar, though I suspect someone who is would find greater value in that chapter. Many sources to pursue, and many gems of insight within nonetheless.

[Shahin Azad · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is good academic book, but it discusses most the cultural history of numbers than the numbers itself.

[Rana · Rating 2 out of 5]

biased towards the number 7

[Harry · Rating 4 out of 5]

the first chapters of the book are really excellent showing some cultural significance of many numbers which we take for granted, as well as how number developed as a concept in cultural consciousness. it has helped a huge amount influencing how I read medieval literature.
the book begins to drag on towards the halfway point but still contains nuggets you will remember much later.