Symbolism in Beloved Toni Morrison enhances the effectiveness of Beloved with symbolism. This symbolism has myriad origins and forms. The numerical symbols come from astrological sources, while the character names are allusions to ancient Egyptian mythology, the Bible and African culture. Furthermore, important symbols of color are discernible throughout the novel. From the very beginning of Beloved, the number 124 is distinguishable. In fact, he appears as the first character in every book of the novel. As the address of the house where most of the plot takes place, this number is extremely important. According to astrology, the numbers 1, 3, 7, and 22 are "ascribed magical powers" (Samuels 135). These magical powers are said to be symbols of completion and creation. 124 fits this astrological delineation because the sum of the three digits of the number results in the aforementioned 7. Furthermore, a significant association between the novel's characters is in the form of three people: Sethe, Beloved, and Denver. , the name of the novel's protagonist, Sethe, is associated with "one of the major gods of ancient Egypt and the biblical Seth, who was the son of Adam and Eve" (Samuels 136). This Egyptian god was part man and part animal or bird, which explains the animal imagery surrounding Sethe in the novel. For example, when explaining her secret about Beloved to Paul D., Sethe is described as if she were a hawk or a bird circling. Morrison writes, “She simply flew…and the hummingbird's wings continued to beat” (163). The name Sethe is also unique as a name for a slave girl because it is derived from Egyptian and Biblical male names. Morrison uses the name to enhance the masculinity of Sethe's character. Sethe's ability to overcome tragedies and overwhelming challenges such as her escape from slavery in Kentucky and the murder of her son identifies her with this quality. Furthermore, the name Sixo symbolizes the dehumanization of slaves during the late 19th century. Its name, derived from the number 6, implies that white masters did not regard their slaves with enough respect to recognize them by more than one number. This renaming also symbolizes the power that slave owners felt by stripping slaves of their individuality. The distinction of color in slavery adds to the color symbolism that pervades Beloved..