Number Symbolism

In seven we have the conjunction of body [4] and soul [3], and was
thus termed by the Pythagoreans 'the vehicle of life'; of which
the 'chariot' would seem a suitable hieroglyph. Here again we another
example of an apparent match between image and numerological
symbolism of the period.

Seven is attributed to the Moon, as it "doeth dispense the motion,
and light of the Moon" [Agrippa]. That is the 28 day cycle of the
Moon is apportioned into 4 phases of 7 days each, new moon, waxing
quarter, full moon and waning quarter. Seven is the base of the
triangular [and 'perfect'] number 28 that is the sum of the numbers 1-
7 = 28, the full cycle. It is probable that it is in the lunar cycle
that the seven-day week originated.

However the seventh day is also the day of rest, and thus Agrippa
mentions it also has correspondence with the planet Saturn. In Hebrew
the seventh day is named after Saturn; and both the Moon and Saturn
are connected in that on the eve of the Sabbath, the day of rest, the
Shekinah as 'bride' is drawn down, and the symbol of the Shekinah is
the Moon. But they are also connected in that as the Moon has a 28-
day cycle, Saturn has a 28-year cycle also having four periods of
seven-year periods [thus the 'seven year itch']. The Moon and Saturn
are the two ends in the order of the seven planets, to which are
attributed the 'seven stages' in the life of man. The Moon is
attributed to infancy, and Saturn to old age; thus the two represent
the journey of the 'vehicle of life' [body and soul] from infancy to
old age.

Agrippa also states: "It is assigned to Minerva, because it proceeds
of nothing; also to Pallas the Virago because it consists of numbers
male and female." I find this interesting in relation to the Chariot
in that I have always considered that the charioteer to me appears
androgynous, and could certainly in my eyes perhaps be a warrior
maiden such as Minerva or Pallas Athena the virago. Indeed in the
early painted decks the charioteer is clearly a woman. The epithets
of Minerva include Hippias, that is Goddess of Horses, and in the
battle of the gods and giants she rode her chariot against Enceladus.
She is also the Goddess of Bridling [Chalinitidos], and it was she
who broke in and bridled the winged horse Pegasus. As Goddess of
Wisdom having mastery over horses she represents reasons or wisdoms
control of the spirited and appetitive aspects of the soul. She is
also Goddess of Victory in battle with attributes of prudence that is
practical wisdom, and valour.

Seven is also connected with wisdom [the seven pillars of wisdom] and
purity [7 pairs of the clean or 'kosher' animals went into the arc,
as opposed to only two of each 'unclean']; this too would fit in with
the Virgin Goddess of Wisdom, Pallas Minerva. Wisdom as auriga
virtutum, 'the charioteer of the virtues', a metaphor to be found
originally in Plato, is to be found with great frequency in Christian
texts. Plato described the soul as threefold, the appetitive, the
spirited and the reasoning. The appetitive and spirited aspects he
described as two horses, with reason [whose virtue is wisdom] as the
charioteer. Alanus Magnus de Insulis, in his Anticlaudianus, provides
another link with the number 7 in that he describes the chariot as
being formed by wisdom out of the seven arts, grammar, logic,
rhetoric, arithmetic, music, geometry and astronomy. Thus again there
appears to be strong correlations between Atu VII the Charioteer and
the symbolism of number 7.