On the Number 55

TABLE 4: On the Number 55
1)	On the Oracle: Heaven is one, earth is two; heaven is three, earth four; heaven is five, earth six; heaven is seven, earth eight; heaven is nine, earth ten. There are five heavenly numbers. There are also five earthly numbers. When they are distributed among the five places, each finds its complement. The sum of the heavenly numbers is 25, that of the earthly numbers is 30. The sum total of heavenly numbers and earthly numbers is 55. It is this which completes the changes and transformations and sets demons and gods in movement. — I Ching, Book II.9.1-2 (circa 1000 B.C.) Sum of 5 odd heavenly numbers = 1+3+5+7+9 = 25 Sum of 5 even earthly numbers = 2+4+6+8+10 = 30 Sum of the heavenly & earthly series (I Ching) = 25 + 30 = 55
2)	Platonic Lambda: The Soul of the Universe is the sum of the two series (Timaeus 35b): Sum of the double interval series (powers of 2) = 2⁰ + 2¹ + 2² + 2³ = 1 + 2 + 4 + 8 = 15 Sum of the triple interval series (powers of 3) = 3⁰ + 3¹ + 3² + 3³ = 1 + 3 + 9 + 27 = 40 Sum of the double & triple interval series (Timaeus) = 15 + 40 = 55 “Now God did not make the soul after the body, although we are speaking of them in this order; for having brought them together he would never have allowed that the elder should be ruled by the younger... First of all, he took away one part of the whole [1], and then he separated a second part which was double the first [2], and then he took away a third part which was half as much again as the second and three times as much as the first [3], and then he took a fourth part which was twice as much as the second [4], and a fifth part which was three times the third [9], and a sixth part which was eight times the first [8], and a seventh part which was twenty-seven times the first [27]. After this he filled up the double intervals [i.e. between 1, 2, 4, 8] and the triple [i.e. between 1, 3, 9, 27] cutting off yet other portions from the mixture and placing them in the intervals” (Benjamin Jowett's translation of Plato's Timaeus 35b)
3)	In Pythagorean arithmetic, 2 is the first even number, 3 the first odd number. The even & odd tetractyes both radiate from the One, which is the source of all numbers. The sum of these two series is 55
4)	The 10th triangular number = 1, 3, 6, 10, 15, 21, 28, 36, 45, 55 Sum of the first 10 numbers: 1+2+3+4+5+6+7+8+9+10 = 55
5)	Sum of the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th triangular numbers = 3 + 6 + 10 + 15 + 21 = 55
6)	The 10th Fibonacci number = 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55 (Leonardo Pisano Fibonacci, 1170-1250)
7)	The 5th Pyramidal number = 1, 5, 14, 30, 55 Sum of the first 5 square numbers = 1 + 4 + 9 + 16 + 25 = 55
8)	Sum of the 8 factors of 36 = 1 + 2 + 3 + 4 + 6 + 9 + 12 + 18 = 55
9)	The 55th digit of pi = 9
10)	The 130th & 131st digits of pi = 55
11)	The 55th digit of phi = 1
12)	Aristotle postulated a complex arrangement of 55 concentric spheres with varying differential speeds, all of them constructed of a transparent crystal of infinite purity and perfection. (Charles-Albert Reichen, A History of Astronomy, Hawthorn, NY, 1961, p. 15) “Since, then, the spheres involved in the movement of the planets themselves are— eight for Saturn and Jupiter and twenty-five for the others, and of these only those involved in the movement of the lowest-situated planet need not be counteracted the spheres which counteract those of the outermost two planets will be six in number, and the spheres which counteract those of the next four planets will be sixteen; therefore the number of all the spheres— both those which move the planets and those which counteract these— will be 55.” Aristotle, Metaphysics 1074a6 (Bk XII or Book Lambda), translated by W. D. Ross, Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1924
13)	Atomic Number of Cesium (Cs) = 55 The cesium clock is used as a standard in measuring time. Its accuracy is one second in 30,000 years. The cesium atomic clock is based on the frequency corresponding to hyperfine structure transition in the atoms of cesium nuclides Cs-133. (K. Diem & C. Lentner, Scientific Tables, Ciba-Geigy, Basle, 1970, p. 207)
14)	The 55th day of the year = February 24 (birthday of Giovanni Pico della Mirandola, 2/14/1463-11/17/1494, Italian philosopher)
15)	The 55th hexagram of the I Ching: Fêng / Abundance (Fullness)
16)	On February 9, 1986, Halley's Comet made its closest approach to the sun (perihelion) "at a distance of only about 55 million miles." [Science News, Vol. 129, (January 11, 1986), p. 20]
17)	The velocity of Halley's comet at perihelion is 55 kilometers per second. (Donald K. Yeomans, The Comet Halley Handbook, NASA, May 15, 1983, p. 20]
18)	An Emerald wedding anniversary celebrates 55 years.
19)	Number of stars (29 stella + 26 stelle) Dante scattered in his Commedia = 55. (See Online Concordance) (Ernest H. Wilkins, T. G. Bergin, & A. J. De Vito, A Concordance to the Divine Commedy of Dante Alighieri, 1966)
20)	Thomas Taylor & Floyer Sydenham translated 55 Dialogues of Plato from Greek to English, published in 5 volumes (R. Wilks, London, 1804). These translations influenced the romantic poets Coleridge, Wordsworth, Shelley, Keats, Byron, and Blake. (see Stanford Library copy; also Kane Antiquarian Auction, 10-5-1997, auction lot #320)
21)	55th word of the King James Version of the Bible's Old Testament Genesis = light 1: In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. 2: And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 3: And God said, Let there be light: and there was light. 4: And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness. — Genesis I.1-4 (1611)
22)	The number 55 is symbolised as "The Sword"— signifying energy and triumph. It denotes mental penetration which pierces the darkness of ignorance as a sharp sword pierces a dense body. (Isidore Kozminsky, Numbers: Their Meaning and Magic, Rider, London, 1912, p. 51)
23)	Marilyn Monroe's"Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress was assigned Lot #55 at the Christie's Auction on October 27, 1999. It sold for a record price for a dress— $1,267,500. The Christie's Catalog cover shows Marilyn in the Platonic Lambda pose.
24)	EL is an ancient Semitic title for God. In Assyrian-Babylonian mythology, the great trinity Anu (sky), Bel (light), and Ea (sea) emanated from EL. EL was used by the Phoenicians for the high-one. Elohim is the plural form of EL. The Hebrews associated EL or Elohim with a sun-deity absorbed by Yaw (Jah or Jehovah) In Hebrew poetry EL appears as First Cause, God, Mighty One, principle or beginning of all things. In Cabala, EL is a name of Chesed, the 4th Sephira. EL is Celtic for angel. As a word root, EL appears in Bethel, Daniel, Eli, Elijah, eel, and electricity. (Gertrude Jobes, Dictionary of Mythology, Folklore and Symbols, Scarecrow Press, NY, 1962, p. 497) Note: Epsilon is the 5th letter of the Greek alphabet, E Lambda is the 11th letter of the Greek alphabet, L Product of the 3rd & 5th prime numbers: 5 x 11 = 55 = EL
25)	Numerology: words whose letters add up to 55 Hemoglobin = 8 + 5 + 4 + 6 + 7 + 3 + 6 + 2 + 9 + 5 = 55 Universal Self = (3 + 5 + 9 + 4 + 5 + 9 + 1 + 1 + 3) + (1 + 5 + 3 + 6) = 40 + 15 = 55 Christ-Logos = (3 + 8 + 9 + 9 + 1 + 2) + (3 + 6 + 7 + 6 + 1) = 32 + 23 = 55

| Top of Page | Numbers | Dates | A-Z Portals | Art & Spirit | Books | Enlightenment | Poetry | Home |