Three Books of Occult Philosophy · 92 of 186

Book II, Ch. 18: Of the notes or figures of the Græcians

The Græcians [Greeks] use the Alphabeticall letters for their notes ofnumbers, and that three wayes; first by every Element according to the series of the Alphabet signifying the number of its place. For in the order of which any number doth possesse the place of the Alphabet, it represents the number thereof, as here you may see. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. α β γ δ ε ζ η θ ι κ λ µ 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. ν ξ ο π ρ σ τ υ φ χ ψ ω And this is the first order of numbeers amongst the Greeks. Secondly, the Greeks divide the whole Alphabet into three Classes, whereof the first beginning from Alpha, is of unites. The second beginning from Iota is of tens. The third begining from Rho is of hundreds; and this order by the latter of the Greeks is instituted after the imitation of the Hebrews. Now because threir Alphabet wants by that rule, three letters, it is necessary to add to them three figures and to interlace them with the letters, by which, viz. they explain the sixt, the ninetieth, and the nine hundreth, as is manifest in the following Classes. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. Α Β Γ ∆ Ε ζ Ζ Η Θ 10. 20. 30. 40. 50. 60. 70. 80. 90. Ι Κ Λ Μ Ν Ξ Ο Π 100. 200. 300. 400. 500. 600. 700. 800. 900. Ρ Σ Τ Υ Φ Χ Ψ Ω Now if to any of these letters there be subscribed the stroke of an acute tone, then it signifies so many thousands, as in these examples.

1000.10000. 100000.

/ A / I / P After the third manner, the Greeks use only six letters in signifying their numbers, viz. I, for an Unite, Π for the number five, because it is the head of the word πεντε (i.e.) five. ∆ for the number ten, from δεκα. H for a hundred from εκατον. X for a thousand from the word χιλια, M for ten thousand from µυρια. From which six letters joyned in number after their manner unto four, or to other numbers, they make other numbers, besides Π which is not multiplyed, nor joyned to it self, but alwayes aignifies the fives of others, as appears in the following examples.