In the NABOKOV-L-archives there are many comments on
the mirror-image (or inversion) of 999, viz "the numerologist's gematric
obsessive 666, and whether this influenced VN's choice of lines, knowing
that VN would be skeptical of the mad-crank excesses stirred by the Book of
Revelation.", including Donald Barton Johnson's abstract of "Signs &
Symbols":Nabokov & Iconicity [ NABOKOV SYMPOSIUM (July 15-19,
2002) Saint Petersburg] and a quote:"We shall see that Nabokov, the consummate
artist, employs these almost subliminal signs and symbols and integrates them
into the architecture of his art."
JM: Chance again has
popped Aleister Crowley's name before my eyes. In March 3,
2008 his name appeared close to Duchamp's,concerning a discussion
about Cammell's adaptation of Pale Fire. Cf. "[Donald Cammell] son of poet and critic Charles Richard Cammell –
heir to the Cammell-Laird fortune and biographer of Aleister Crowley ....".
In a site about Fernando Pessoa ( with his
translation of Poe's "The Raven"), a reference was
made his influence on Crowley's astrological pursuits. It was
when I learned that Crowley's nickname was "Besta 666" ( I don't know how comes
out in English).
Perhaps the emergence of some such 666 Arabic
algarisms in Nabokov might have been used by him as a hint
for Crowley or at his theories about
the Occult?