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Sacred Geometry in Ancient Temples and Cities
The mind-boggling achievements of ancient civilizations are outside the scope of this article, but the point I want to draw attention to is that these sacred numbers were the basis for everything of importance in ancient times. These geometric principles governed the cosmos and were also the basis for the incredible temples and cities that still baffle people today. The principles that govern time and space should naturally govern human creations and especially in temples dedicated to the divine.
The construction of temples and cities followed these cosmic laws, manifesting in awe-inspiring architectural feats that are still revered for their divine symmetry and harmony with the natural world.
The Parthenon and the Golden Ratio
The Parthenon of Greece Is one of countless examples from all over the world. I have chosen this temple because the subject of this article is Greek philosophy. The Parthenon is far from the most compelling use of sacred geometry but it is an easy point to illustrate. We can see here that the Golden Ratio was part of the design of the structure, as is the Milky Way. Euclid’s Elements remains the most complete work on geometry ever written. In over 2,000 years Euclid’s work has not been improved upon.
The Golden Ratio is found throughout all of nature and is a deep study in and of itself. Its discovery is credited to Fibonacci in the 13th century but older Sanskrit texts have been found using the Fibonacci sequence. I believe it is one of many things that are periodically lost and rediscovered with the rise and decline of civilization.
Astrological Alignments in Ancient Architecture
The sacred mathematics found throughout astrological lore are found throughout the wonders of the ancient world. Megalithic structures that mystified people for ages are almost always found to be designed to embody these principles. Incredible feats of engineering, some dating back to very remote times, are found to be perfectly aligned to the equinoxes and solstices, the eternal markers of Plato’s Great Year and the Cross of Matter in astrology.
Throughout Timaeus, Plato emphasizes that geometry and mathematical harmony are fundamental to everything in creation. He does not explicitly state that it should apply to Greek temples or urban planning, but his account of Atlantis in Critias certainly does. His lengthy descriptions of the legendary city are of constructions that reflect the harmonious order of the cosmos that was an earthly paradise before its destruction. With this story having come from Egyptian priests, who claimed that the builders of this city was Egypt’s ancestor, the implication by Plato is that Egypt knew of these principles and designed their structures in the same way.
Whether or not Plato’s story of Atlantis is a fable is irrelevant; the point is that he credits this knowledge to Egypt. The cosmology of Plato and Pythagoras with the triangle being the central spiritual form and the Egyptian obsession with pyramids is probably not coincidence.
Mythology and Sacred Numbers
Ancient mythology, rich with stories of death, rebirth, and specific symbolic numbers, is filled with sacred mathematics. Though many today may not understand their full significance and very specific numbers, these myths were carefully crafted by ancient priests skilled in astronomy and astrology to encode universal truths and cosmic principles.
The Mathematical Mysticism of Pythagoras and Beyond
The mathematical theology of Pythagoras extended far beyond Western astrology. For example, in Jewish Kabbalah, Gematria—the practice of assigning numerical values to letters—reveals hidden meanings within texts, reflecting the divine mathematical patterns that govern existence. Within the mystic traditions of Judaism, Islam, and Christianity, numbers are seen as the language of the divine.
This tradition also flourished in Islamic mysticism, particularly within Sufi practices, where it became known as letterism during the Islamic Golden Age. Even Aristotle acknowledged that Gematria had long been a part of the Pythagorean tradition.
Gematria and the Mystical Name of God
The Name of God In ancient Hebrew as understood with the Tetractys and Gematria
The Name of God In ancient Hebrew as understood with the Tetractys and Gematria
In Gnostic texts, Gematria is the basis for many divine names, such as Abraxas, a mysterious Demiurge. His name is composed of seven Greek letters, each corresponding to one of the seven planets. The numerical values of these letters total 365, representing the days of the solar year, further illustrating the cosmic harmony embedded in ancient belief systems.
Like many esoteric riddles, the deeper meanings of Abraxas cannot be fully understood at face value, much like the hidden spiritual principles embedded in nature.
Sacred Geometry and the Human Form
The principles of sacred mathematics are not confined to celestial bodies and architecture but extend to all forms of life. From the structure of plants to the proportions of the human body, sacred geometry is woven into the fabric of existence.
In Timaeus, Plato described the human soul as a miniature version of the cosmos, suggesting that the philosopher’s journey is to understand these principles and return to the divine source through knowledge.
“Vitruvian Man” by Leonardo Da Vinci, a study of the sacred geometry in the human body
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