ABSTRACT
The mathematical or 'grammatical constitution' of the cosmos would via Jewish mysticism develop into a central motif of medieval and modern esotericism. Platonism, Pythagoreanism and Orphism clearly show the rich variety of Greek philosophical and religious discourse and how certain concepts of man and the world developed into important building-stones of ancient esotericism. The Christianisation of the Roman Empire and the establishment of Christianity as the state religion created a new context for some traditions of the ancient world. Esotericism has always occupied that charged field between philosophy and religion. Plato is the first known Greek philosopher to make a mythological connection between the arrangement of the heavens and terrestrial destiny. The Stoics described the compelling mechanism with the concept of heimarmene, but has little to do with our notion of fate. 'Gnosis' is a difficult concept, not least because it is not the self-description of individual ancient communities, but a polemic employed by the established Christian Church.
