MYSTERIES OF THE EQUILATERAL TRIANGLE - HIKARI Ltd

10 History
Figure 1.17:
Pythagorean Tetraktys
Figure 1.18: Neopythagorean
Tetraktys
Figure 1.19: Triangular
Numbers
defined by four points). Together, they symbolized the four elements: earth,
air, fire and water. The tetraktys (four) was seen to be the sacred decad (ten)
in disguise (1+2+3+4=10). It also embodies the four main Greek musical
harmonies: the fourth (4:3), the fifth (3:2), the octave (2:1) and the double
octave (4:1) [148].
For neophythagoreans [276], the tetraktys’ three corner dots guard a hexagon
(6, symbolizing life) and the hexagon circumscribes a mystic hexagram (two
overlapping equilateral triangles, upward-pointing for male and downwardpointing
for female, denoting divine balance) enclosing a lone dot (Figure 1.18).
This dot represents Athene, goddess of wisdom, and symbolizes health, light
and intelligence. The tetraktys is also the geometric representation of the
fourth of the triangular numbers ∆n = n(n+1)
2 (Figure 1.19).
Figure 1.20: Hebrew
Tetragrammaton
Figure 1.21: Archbishop’s
Coat of Arms
Figure 1.22: Tarot
Card Spread
The tetraktys has also been passed down to us in the Hebrew Tetragrammaton
of the Kabbalah (Figure 1.20) and the Roman Catholic archbishop’s coat
of arms (Figure 1.21). The tetraktys is also used in one Tarot card reading arrangement
(Figure 1.22). The various positions provide a basis for forecasting
future events.