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==History== | ==History== | ||
[[File:Magic Squares-German.jpg|400px|thumb|Magic Squares from the ''[[Book of Abramelin]]'']] | |||
Magic squares have a long history, dating back to at least 190 BCE in China. While ancient references to the pattern of even and odd numbers in the 3×3 magic square appear in the ''[[I Ching]]'', the first unequivocal instance of this magic square appears in the chapter called ''Mingtang' of a 1st-century book ''Da Dai Liji'' (''Record of Rites by the Elder Dai''), which describes ancient Chinese rites of the Zhou dynasty. | Magic squares have a long history, dating back to at least 190 BCE in China. While ancient references to the pattern of even and odd numbers in the 3×3 magic square appear in the ''[[I Ching]]'', the first unequivocal instance of this magic square appears in the chapter called ''Mingtang' of a 1st-century book ''Da Dai Liji'' (''Record of Rites by the Elder Dai''), which describes ancient Chinese rites of the Zhou dynasty. | ||
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In 1514 Albrecht Dürer immortalized a 4×4 square in his engraving ''Melencolia I''. Paracelsus' contemporary [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] published his famous three volume book ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy|De occulta philosophia]]'' in 1531, where he devoted Chapter 22 of ''Book II'' to the planetary squares. | In 1514 Albrecht Dürer immortalized a 4×4 square in his engraving ''Melencolia I''. Paracelsus' contemporary [[Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa]] published his famous three volume book ''[[Three Books of Occult Philosophy|De occulta philosophia]]'' in 1531, where he devoted Chapter 22 of ''Book II'' to the planetary squares. | ||
The ''[[Magical Calendar]]'' (1620) contains the magic squares for all seven planets as well as [[sigil]]s to connect with their various spirits. | |||
The tradition of planetary squares was continued into the 17th century by [[Athanasius Kircher]] in ''[[Oedipus Aegyptiacus]]'' (1653). | The tradition of planetary squares was continued into the 17th century by [[Athanasius Kircher]] in ''[[Oedipus Aegyptiacus]]'' (1653). | ||
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==Astrological squares== | ==Astrological squares== | ||
[[File:Aquarius Sigils.png|350px|thumb|Magic square of [[Aquarius]] from the ''[[Magical Calendar]]'']] | |||
Magic squares of order 3 through 9, assigned to the seven planets, and described as means to attract the influence of planets and their [[angel]]s or [[demon]]s during magical practices, can be found in several manuscripts all around Europe starting at least since the 15th century. Among the best known, the ''Liber de Angelis'', a [[grimoire]] written around 1440. | Magic squares of order 3 through 9, assigned to the seven planets, and described as means to attract the influence of planets and their [[angel]]s or [[demon]]s during magical practices, can be found in several manuscripts all around Europe starting at least since the 15th century. Among the best known, the ''Liber de Angelis'', a [[grimoire]] written around 1440. | ||