Re: Ancient number-encoding formats...

[Nick Pelling <incoming@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi everyone,

> These two seem to be the most informative about actual mathematics and
> numbers instead of numerical values of words..
> http://www.inner.org/gematria/gematria.htm
> http://www.jewfaq.org/alephbet.htm

Great links, thanks Zach!

This leads on to the question of whether the code (and I'm certain it is a 
code) underlying the VMS was constructed (completely or in part) out of 
Kabbalistic codes - many of which are underpinned by the concept of a 
letter-based counting system.

To me, it would seem more likely that the VMS was constructed out of 
multiple pre-existing codes than a single novel uncrackable code - and the 
Kabbalistic codes, collectively called "chilufei otiyot" ("the 
interchanging of letters"), form one of the very few crypto traditions of 
any complexity.

The Kabbalistic code "atbash" was used in the Bible (and some of the Dead 
Sea Scrolls, IIRC) - for example, "Shesach" is mentioned there but is 
actually "Babel" atbash'ed.

However, it's not widely known that there were 22 different alef-beit 
schemes, each tied (mnemonically, symbolically, and structurally) to 
different partzuf / sefiroth etc.

Here's a site describing the six most common alef-beits (though using 
Zach's links to get to know the number system first will probably help):-

        http://www.inner.org/aleftran/aleftran.htm

I've also found a reference to a book that covers some of this same area 
(though, as normal, I haven't read it yet). Please excuse the slightly 
breathless title. :-)

        "Cosmic Codes: Hidden Messages From The Edge Of Eternity"
        Author: Chuck Missler

Cheers, .....Nick Pelling.....