GEMATRIA

Isopsephy

The Greek equivalent of Gematria, has its roots in the ancient Hellenic world. The term Isopsephy originates from the Greek words 'isos' meaning equal, and 'psephos' meaning pebble - which reflects the practice of using small stones or pebbles as counters.

The Greeks used letters of their alphabet as numerals, so every word naturally had a numeric value, which could be derived by summing the numbers corresponding to its letters. Similar to Gematria, Isopsephy was used to find hidden meanings and patterns in religious and philosophical texts.

An interesting example of Isopsephy is found in the Christian New Testament's Book of Revelation. The mysterious "Number of the Beast" is described as 666. Many scholars believe that this number could have been a coded reference to Emperor Nero of Rome, as the Greek form of "Nero Caesar" (Neron Kaisar) gives a numerical sum of 666.

Just like Gematria, Isopsephy can offer profound insights when studying ancient texts and can also be used for personal contemplation or meditative practices.

As an exercise, familiarize yourself with the Greek alphabet and their corresponding numbers. Then, try finding the numerical values of some Greek words or phrases, such as the well-known philosophical concept of "Eudaimonia" (happiness or flourishing), or the names of the Greek gods. Reflect on these numerical values and how they might connect to the deeper meanings of these words.

Isopsephy, just like Gematria, is a journey of discovery through numbers and words. By incorporating these systems into your practice, you can explore an array of hidden meanings and connections across different cultures and linguistic systems.