The Number 7

The Number 7

In Freemasonry, the number 7 holds significant symbolism and is often associated with various aspects of the fraternity. As an ancient and revered number, it is used throughout Freemasonry to convey different meanings and concepts. Here are a few key points regarding the importance of the number 7 in Freemasonry:

Seven Liberal Arts and Sciences: Freemasons place great emphasis on education and the pursuit of knowledge. The seven liberal arts and sciences, which include grammar, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic, geometry, music, and astronomy, are considered the foundation of a well-rounded education for a Mason.

Seven Officers in a Lodge: In a Masonic Lodge, there are typically seven principal officers, each with a specific role and responsibility. These officers are the Worshipful Master, Senior Warden, Junior Warden, Treasurer, Secretary, Senior Deacon, and Junior Deacon.

Seven Steps on the Winding Staircase: In the Fellowcraft degree, the second degree of Freemasonry, the initiate is introduced to the symbolic Winding Staircase. This staircase consists of three, five, and seven steps, representing the three stages of Masonic education: Entered Apprentice, Fellowcraft, and Master Mason. The seven steps symbolise the journey through the seven liberal arts and sciences.

The Seventh Day: According to Biblical tradition, God created the world in six days and rested on the seventh. This concept of the seventh day as a day of rest and contemplation is highly regarded in Freemasonry.

Seven Ancient Wonders of the World: Freemasons value the wisdom and achievements of the ancient world.

The seven ancient wonders serve as a testament to the skills and ingenuity of those who came before.

1. The Great Pyramid of Giza: Located in Egypt, the Great Pyramid was built during the reign of Pharaoh Khufu (2589-2566 BCE). It is the oldest and only surviving wonder of the ancient world. The pyramid was originally 146.6 metres tall and served as a tomb for the pharaoh.
2. The Hanging Gardens of Babylon: Believed to have been constructed by King Nebuchadnezzar II (605-562 BCE) in ancient Babylon, which is present-day Iraq. The gardens were a series of terraces filled with plants and trees, irrigated by an advanced water system. Their existence is still debated, as no archaeological evidence has been found to confirm their location.
3. The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus: Built around 550 BCE in present-day Turkey, the Temple of Artemis was dedicated to the Greek goddess Artemis. It was a large marble temple adorned with sculptures and columns. It was destroyed and rebuilt several times before finally being destroyed by a mob in 401 CE.
4. The Statue of Zeus at Olympia: This massive statue was created by the Greek sculptor Phidias around 435 BCE in Olympia, Greece. The statue depicted Zeus, the king of the Greek gods, seated on a throne. It was approximately 12 metres tall and made of gold and ivory. The statue was destroyed during the 5th century CE, likely due to fire or natural disasters.
5. The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus: Built between 353 and 350 BCE in present-day Bodrum, Turkey, the Mausoleum was an elaborate tomb for King Mausolus of Caria and his wife, Artemisia. The structure was approximately 45 metres tall and adorned with sculptures created by renowned Greek artists. It was destroyed by a series of earthquakes in the 12th to 15th centuries CE.
6. The Colossus of Rhodes: This giant statue of the Greek god Helios was erected on the island of Rhodes in 280 BCE. It was approximately 33 metres tall and made of bronze plates over an iron framework. The statue stood at the entrance to the harbour of Rhodes, but was destroyed by an earthquake in 226 BCE.
7. The Lighthouse of Alexandria: Also known as the Pharos of Alexandria, this lighthouse was built between 280 and 247 BCE on the island of Pharos in Alexandria, Egypt. It was estimated to be between 110 and 130 metres tall and was one of the tallest structures in the ancient world. The lighthouse was severely damaged by a series of earthquakes between the 10th and 14th centuries CE and eventually collapsed

These Seven Wonders of the Ancient World represent the creativity, innovation, and ambition of ancient civilisations. While most of these wonders no longer exist, they continue to inspire awe and fascination in the modern world.

Seven Planets: In ancient times, seven celestial bodies (the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn) were known as the "seven planets." These celestial bodies were believed to exert a significant influence on human life, and their study was an important aspect of astronomy, one of the seven liberal arts and sciences.

The Number 7 as a Symbol of Perfection: In various cultures and traditions, the number 7 has been regarded as a symbol of perfection, completeness, and spirituality. This symbolism is also reflected in Freemasonry, as the number 7 is considered to represent the union of the spiritual (3) and the material (4), thus symbolising harmony and balance.

The Recurring Number 7

The 7 Days of Creation

The story of creation in the Book of Genesis, the first book of the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Old Testament, outlines the process of creation in seven days. Here is the order of the seven days of creation and what was created on each day:

1. Day One: God created light, separating it from darkness. He called the light "day" and the darkness "night."
2. Day Two: God created the firmament (the sky or the heavens) to separate the waters above from the waters below.
3. Day Three: God gathered the waters below the firmament, allowing dry land to appear. He called the dry land "earth" and the gathered waters "seas." On the same day, God also created vegetation, including plants and trees, each containing seeds to reproduce after their own kind.
4. Day Four: God created the celestial bodies to serve as markers for days, seasons, and years. He created the Sun to govern the day, the Moon to govern the night, and the stars to adorn the sky.
5. Day Five: God created the creatures that inhabit the water and the birds that fly in the sky. He blessed them, commanding them to be fruitful and multiply.
6. Day Six: God created the land animals, each according to its own kind. On the same day, He also created human beings in His image, both male and female. God granted humans dominion over all other creatures on earth and instructed them to be fruitful, multiply, and fill the earth. He also provided all vegetation as food for humans and animals alike.
7. Day Seven: After completing the creation, God rested on the seventh day, blessing it and making it holy.

The 7 Days of The Week and Their Planets

The seven-day week has its origins in ancient Mesopotamia and was later adopted by the Romans. The idea of the seven-day week was influenced by the lunar cycle, which is approximately 29.5 days long. This cycle was divided into four weeks of seven days each, with the remaining days considered intercalary days.

The association of the days of the week with the seven classical planets – the Sun, Moon, Mars, Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, and Saturn – has its origins in the astrological traditions of the ancient Hellenistic period. This system was later adopted and developed by the Romans, who named the days of the week after their gods, which were also associated with the classical planets.

Here is the correspondence between the days of the week and the planetary attributions:

Sunday: Named after the Sun (Latin: Sol), Sunday is associated with the Roman god of the Sun, Sol Invictus, or Helios in Greek mythology. The day is called "Sunday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Sunnandæg," which means "day of the Sun." Monday: Named after the Moon (Latin: Luna), Monday is linked with the Roman goddess of the Moon, Luna, or Selene in Greek mythology. The day is called "Monday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Mōnandæg," meaning "day of the Moon." Tuesday: Named after Mars (Latin: Mars), Tuesday is associated with the Roman god of war, Mars, or Ares in Greek mythology. The day is called "Tuesday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Tīwesdæg," which means "day of Tīw" or "Tiw's day." Tiw, or Týr in Norse mythology, is a god of war and the sky, equated with Mars. Wednesday: Named after Mercury (Latin: Mercurius), Wednesday is linked with the Roman god of commerce, communication, and travellers, Mercury, or Hermes in Greek mythology. The day is called "Wednesday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Wōdnesdæg," meaning "day of Woden" or "Woden's day." Woden, or Odin in Norse mythology, is a god associated with wisdom, knowledge, and war, equated with Mercury. Thursday: Named after Jupiter (Latin: Iuppiter), Thursday is associated with the Roman king of the gods, Jupiter, or Zeus in Greek mythology. The day is called "Thursday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Þūnresdæg," which means "day of Þunor" or "Thor's day." Þunor, or Thor in Norse mythology, is a god of thunder and strength, equated with Jupiter. Friday: Named after Venus (Latin: Venus), Friday is linked with the Roman goddess of love, beauty, and fertility, Venus, or Aphrodite in Greek mythology. The day is called "Friday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Frīgedæg," meaning "day of Frīge" or "Frigg's day." Frīge, or Frigg in Norse mythology, is a goddess of love, marriage, and fertility, equated with Venus. Saturday: Named after Saturn (Latin: Saturnus), Saturday is associated with the Roman god of agriculture, time, and wealth, Saturn, or Cronus in Greek mythology. The day is called "Saturday" in English, as it is derived from the Old English "Sæternesdæg," which means "day of Saturn."

The seven-day week with its planetary attributions spread throughout the Roman Empire and became deeply ingrained in Western culture. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the system was further adopted and adapted by various European societies. The names of the days of the week in many modern languages still reflect these ancient planetary associations and the corresponding gods from various mythologies.

For example, in Romance languages such as Spanish, Italian, and French, the names of the days of the week are derived from the Latin names for the seven classical planets. In Germanic languages such as English, German, and Dutch, the names of the days of the week are derived from the Germanic gods that were equated with the corresponding Roman deities.