![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_xTu5GegHaVw/SmXxVlwtgGI/AAAAAAAAAAM/DE5CQlJ-R-s/s320/fairy_apple_tree.jpg)
Pythagoras held that it was the symbol of mankind, and that it represented the five divisions of the body and soul. 5 is also the sum of 2 and 3...2 is the feminine number without which we cannot have all the dynamics upon which we base everything we know. For example, if there weren't two of something, we could not have a good one and a bad one, we could only have one. We couldn't have light and dark, big and small, ugly and pretty, etc...all this makes two the number of balance and conflict, and of split personality (maybe this is why it is the symbol representing women! - just kidding ladies). 3, on the other hand, is the masculine number, for what's probably fairly obvious (physical) reasons.
Anyways, when you combine 2 and 3, you get 5, which then makes 5 the number of marriage, and of joining the two genders!
What's so neat about this is that in Christian teachings, of course, Eve gives Adam an apple (the bible itself just says its the fruit of the forbidden tree - never states it's an apple, but it certainly fits the symbolism).
So this begs the question: What was that wisdom that we were not supposed to know?
Of course, Adam and Eve suddenly realized they were different, and sought to cover themselves (with fig trees, which also have pretty cool symbolism, but I'll save that for another day). Was it that we have free choice? Or was it the discovery of sex?
Regardless of what that wisdom, or secret knowledge, that was gleaned all those centuries ago - the fact that all this powerful symbolism can be rolled up into one simple fruit is pretty amazing.
So don't forget - an apple a day, keeps the doctor away!
Is "Apples" the name of the book? I like how the feminine number has such a deeper meaning and more reasoning behind it than the masculine number. Yay - nature, math, mythology. good stuff.
ReplyDeletehahah yeah the number 3 has more significance as well, but it didn't relate as well as 2 does to the discovery I'd made...it had more to do with being the number of reason, wisdom, etc - clearly not manly qualities! :)
ReplyDeleteAs for the name...no...it's called *ahem* "The Element Encyclopedia of Signs and Symbols"
I know, I know...I'm a dork. *sigh*