Editing Numerology (section)

== History ==
{{see also|Numbers in Chinese culture|Numbers in Egyptian mythology|Significance of numbers in Judaism}}
The practice of [[gematria]], assigning numerical values to words and names and imputing those values with religious meaning, dates back to antiquity. An Assyrian inscription from the 8th century BC, commissioned by [[Sargon&nbsp;II]] declares "the king built the wall of Khorsabad 16,283 cubits long to correspond with the numerical value of his name".{{sfn|Luckenbill|1927|pp=43, 65}} [[Rabbinic literature]] used gematria to interpret passages in the [[Hebrew Bible]].

The practice of using alphabetic letters to represent numbers developed in the Greek city of [[Miletus]], and is thus known as the Milesian system.{{sfn|Halsey|1967}} Early examples include vase graffiti dating to the 6th century BCE.{{sfn|Jeffrey|1961}} Aristotle wrote that the [[Pythagoreanism|Pythgoraean tradition]], founded in the 6th century by [[Pythagoras of Samos]], practiced [[isopsephy]],{{sfn|Acevedo|2020|p=50}} the Greek predecessor of Hebrew [[gematria]]. Pythagoras was a contemporary of the philosophers [[Anaximander]], [[Anaximenes of Miletus|Anaximenes]], and the historian [[Hecataeus of Miletus|Hecataeus]], all of whom lived in Miletus, across the sea from [[Samos]].{{sfn|Riedweg|2005}} The Milesian system was in common use by the reign of [[Alexander the Great]] (336–323&nbsp;BCE) and was adopted by other cultures during the subsequent [[Hellenistic period]].{{sfn|Halsey|1967}} It was officially adopted in Egypt during the reign of [[Ptolemy&nbsp;II Philadelphus]] (284–246&nbsp;BCE).{{sfn|Halsey|1967}}

By the late 4th century AD, following the [[Edict of Thessalonica]] in 380 AD and the subsequent enforcement of [[Nicene Christianity]] under [[Theodosius I]], departures from the beliefs of the [[State church of the Roman Empire|state church]] were classified as civil violations within the [[Roman Empire]].{{sfn|McLynn|1994}} Numerology, referred to as [[isopsephy]], remained in use in conservative [[Greek Orthodox]] circles, particularly in mystical and theological contexts.{{sfn|Ferguson|2013}}

Some [[alchemical]] theories were closely related to numerology. For example, Arab alchemist [[Jabir ibn Hayyan]] (died c.&nbsp;806−816) framed his experiments in an elaborate numerology based on the names of substances in the [[Arabic language]].{{sfn|Newman|n.d.}}

Numerology is prominent in Sir [[Thomas Browne]]'s 1658 literary discourse ''[[The Garden of Cyrus]]''. Throughout its pages, the author attempts to demonstrate that the number five and the related [[quincunx]] pattern can be found throughout the arts, in design, and in nature{{snd}} particularly botany.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}}

Some approaches to understanding the meanings of the Qur'an (the book of Muslims) include the understanding of numerical meanings, numerical symbols and their combination with purely textual approaches.{{sfnm|1a1=Besharati|1a2=Besharati|1y=2022|2a1=Besharati|2a2=Fakhari|2y=2023}}