See the node
magic square for a definition of the term.
1 15 14 4
12 6 7 9
8 10 11 5
13 3 2 16
This magic square consists of
consecutive numbers from 1 through 16. Adding any
horizontal row,
vertical column, or
diagonal will result in a sum of 34. This square was
popular in the 16th century, when Europeans thought it to have the power to ward off
plague and
disease. The background of
Albrecht Durer's famous "Melencolia I"
engraving (1514) contains a very similar square. The square is still quite popular in various parts of Eastern
Asia.
4 9 2
3 5 7
8 1 6
The oldest known magic square, this example dates back at least 4000 years and can be found in the
I Ching. Various incarnations of the square can be found throughout ancient
history. A powerful mystical symbol to the
Chinese, this particular square also represented the name of God to the ancient
Hebrews. The first two letters of the name of
God, YH, represent the number 15. All rows, columns, and diagonals in the square have a
sum of 15.
During the Middle Ages, magic squares came to represent various planets. The 16-number square above was Jupiter, whereas the 9-number one represented Saturn. Among the secrets thought to be held by the squares were methods for turning various metals into gold and tracking astronomical bodies.