Talk:36 (number)

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I think something on the numerological/religious/mystical significance of the number 36 would be appropriate to add, there's some info on a few sites I've found, but I can't think how to phrase any of it, or properly designate it. Some sites claim that the number 36 was associated with the Tetractys of the Pythagoreans, and that it was viewed as representing the world.

• Some examples, starting this Quote (within a quote) from here; [1]

For example, consider the following Pythagorean reference (or mnemonic device, if one prefers) concerning the number 36 as explained by W. Wyn Westcott:11

Plutarch, "De Iside et Osiride," calls the Tetractys the power of the number 36, and on this was the greatest oath of the Pythagoreans sworn: and it was denominated the World, in consequence of its being composed of the first four even and the first four odd numbers; for 1 and 3 and 5 and 7 are 16; add 2 and 4 and 6 and 8, and obtain 36. (W.Wyn Westcott, Numbers: their Occult Power and Mystic Virtues, Sun Publishing Santa Fe, 1983:114).

• And also this quote from here; [2]

The number of 36 was the highest oath for the Pythagorean. They are captivated by the following mathematical properties of this number: 36 = 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8 = (1+3+5+7) + (2+4+6+8). As the number of 36 is formed as the sum of the first four odd numbers and the first four even numbers Pythagorean made conclusion that 36 is a symbol of the world.

• Also from this site; [3]

Now 1, 6, 12, 36, 111, and 666 were the most sacred numbers in Astrology. Priests of Sun worship used the numbers mathematically by the way the stars travel across the sky to predict future events. They invented magic charts to perform this most popular form of divination. Like the Roulette wheel, the charts were divided into 36 numbered divisions. There were 6 columns in all directions with the numbers 1 to 36 placed inside the entire chart. Any direction you add the columns, they add to 111. There are six squares in each column and 6 x 111 = 666. If you add all the numbers from 1 to 36 they will also add to 666. So you see, the number 36 was a sacred number that identified with the 36 room gods of the Zodiac, and the number 666 was a summary number of the Sun-god, because it was his sacred number as the Ruler of the Zodiac.

• Also Rabbi Pinchas Winston, whose book I've included under literature, has written a lot about the significance of the number 36 from what appears to be a kabbalistic approach. The entire text of his book can be accessed online by clicking on 'table of contents' here; [4] and a site based around his work, with some essays and articles (amongst others) concerning the significance 36 is here; [5].

Also some sites associate it with 666 since that is the 36th Triangular number (The sum of 1 through 36).

There's more out there but that seems like some main points to suggest anyway. So if somebody would like to sort all that into something I'd be very appreciative thanks. Number36 03:57, 8 May 2006 (UTC)