Agrippa's magic seal of the Sun is constructed from a six-by-six grid. This square has a property that has marked the history of occultism: each row totals 111, and the sum of all the numbers reaches 666. Agrippa nevertheless does not use this total in the modern polemical sense attached to the "number of the Beast"; he incorporates it into an arithmetical system of solar correspondences.
| Source | Agrippa, De occulta philosophia, Book II, Chap. XXII |
|---|---|
| Associated square | 6 × 6 |
| Magic constant | 111 |
| Total sum | 666 |
| Traditional metal | Gold |
Why does the solar square total 666?
The magic square of the Sun contains the numbers 1 to 36. Each row, column, and diagonal totals 111; the sum of the numbers from 1 to 36 is 666.
This property comes from the grid's arithmetic, not from an addition external to the system.
How is the character derived from the table?
Agrippa places several characters beneath the table of the Sun: that of the planet, that of its intelligence, and that of its spirit.
The solar seal proper belongs to the first category. The figures must not be mixed when reproducing the source.
What is the difference from ☉?
The glyph ☉ represents the Sun on astrological charts and also serves as an alchemical symbol for gold.
Agrippa's planetary seal is a talismanic figure derived from the solar kamea.
Why is the seal associated with the solar metal?
Agrippa prescribes gold as the material for a solar table prepared under a favorable astrological configuration.
He attributes fame, favor, power, dignity, and social advancement to it, themes consistent with the astrological tradition of the Sun.
Why has this design had such a lasting legacy?
The total 666, the connection to gold, and the central place of the Sun have attracted extensive commentary in Western occultism.
Agrippa's context nevertheless remains clear: the sign belongs to a mathematical series of seven planets and must be read together with the other six seals.
Historical sources and reference points
Heinrich Cornelius Agrippa, De occulta philosophia, Book II, Chap. XXII, digital edition by Joseph H. Peterson based on the early editions of the text.
