ENThe article deals with the origins and meaning of symbolism in the Pythagorean and Neoplatonic contexts as well as our ability to discern some hidden meaning beyond the phenomenal signs and omens. The similarity and difference of various ancient Hellenic philosophical terms such as allegoria and sunthema are analyzed. The hermeneutical striving to reveal the inner layers of ancient texts sometimes depends on a sort of creative misinterpretation which is determined by the initial presuppositions.