Five as a Symbol

The symbolism of numbers has an ancient history. That the number two indicated the female and three the male, was intuitively seen and known in periods long antedating psychoanalysis. In the analytic sense three is male and typically indicates the penis and testes. Two is female and most typically is represented by the breasts. Displacements of the two-three symbolism are possible.

Ancient symbolism saw unusual force in the number five because it contained a conjunction of male and female elements. In one sense it might be possible to conceive this force to be the symbolization of the powerful procreative meaning of coitus. In more vital aspects it would represent the man and woman found as a pair in facing vital problems. The most common fusion of this sort would be in marriage.

It is an everyday observation, in cultured societies, that wives assist their husbands in many vital ways. The institution of the dowry undoubtedly does the same thing and has as its basis the strengthening of the family. Women often are used as a softening influence to placate an enemy.

Marriage implies a mature genital position. One wonders if the symbolic meaning of five possibly can have some more primitive symbolic significance, existing prior to the mature genital position. A recent analytic hour lends credence to such wonder.

The genital in man is in a particularly vulnerable position, perhaps only less so than the abdomen. This vulnerability is ineffably increased by the erect posture of man. So much so that one wonders why man and some apes assumed the erect posture. The thought comes to mind that escape from an enemy and the seeking of high places partly accounts for this. In facing an enemy it generally is wiser to get as close to the ground as possible or at least to stoop somewhat. This occurs even in the prize-ring where the most vulnerable area, below the belt, is protected by regulation. The common interpretations of the Garden of Eden episode may have this additional deeper con