Twelve repetitions of God’s four-letter name fill two overlapping squares. Around them runs a statement of everlasting kingdom, accompanying claims of empire, renown, glory and the power to inflict loss. [1]
Mathers 1889 · Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 65; figure 34, Plate VIII; plate PDF page 86
To acquire kingdom, empire, renown and glory and to inflict loss, in addition to restraining solar spirits’ pride with the two preceding pentacles. [1]
Design
An upright square overlaps a diamond, with twelve repetitions of IHVH and an enclosing Hebrew statement of enduring kingdom.
Source reproduction The 3rd Pentacle of the Sun: twelve repetitions of IHVH within overlapping squares. Mathers 1889, Plate VIII, figure 34; notice on p. 65.
Kingdom, empire and loss
The third solar pentacle extends the first pair’s authority over spirits into worldly power. It is credited with acquiring kingdom and empire, renown and glory, and with inflicting loss. The notice gives particular force to the divine name repeated twelve times within it. [1]
That name is the Tetragrammaton, a term for God’s four-letter Hebrew name, represented in Mathers’s note as IHVH. Its twelvefold presence is part of the stated explanation of this figure’s power. [1]
A name repeated within squares
An upright square and a rotated square overlap inside the circle. Four forms of IHVH stand outside the upright square; eight more follow the sides of the diamond, facing in different directions. The arrangement leaves a large open space at the centre. A small radiating mark, with circles at its ends, stands at the top of the outer band. [1]
An everlasting kingdom
Mathers translates the outer sentence as “My Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom, and my dominion endureth from age unto age.” He describes it as somewhat similar to Daniel 4:34. His printed first-person statement is not the same wording as the biblical verse, in which Nebuchadnezzar praises the Most High’s enduring dominion. [1][2]
Daniel’s king has recovered his reason and looks towards heaven; the following lines describe the restoration of his kingdom and honour and the humbling of those who walk in pride. Those themes bring the pentacle’s kingdom and renown into a scriptural setting concerned with both royal restoration and the limits of pride. [1][2]
S. L. MacGregor Mathers, 1889; printed edition, including editorial restoration of Hebrew characters. Book I, chapter XVIII; printed p. 65; figure 34, Plate VIII; plate PDF page 86; relevant solar notices, printed pp. 65–66; construction context, chapter VIII pp. 39–41 and chapter XVIII pp. 56–57
