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Abraxas
Also
Abracax, Abrasax, Abanathabla and Ablathanabla.
A mystical word, probably of
Gnostic or
Kabbalistic
origins, which conveys
gematrically the number
365 and is connected with the solar cycle. The word is also associated with the
highest Gnostic deity, represented by the image of a man with the head of a
cock and serpents for feet, holding a shield and whip. The image is often
found on ancient gems or stones of Basilidian origin, that were commonly used
as amulets.
These were inscribed with bizarre symbols and formulas and were called Abrasax
as well.
The Gnostics, a Basilidian sect of the
2nd century, claimed Abraxas as their supreme god, and said that
Jesus Christ was only a phantom sent to earth
by him. They believed that his name contained great mysteries, as it was
composed of the seven
Greek letters that formed the number 365, which is also
number of days in a year. Abraxas, they thought, had under his command 365 gods,
to whom they attributed 365 virtues, one for each day.
"Abrasax represented the 365 Aeons or
emanations from the First Cause, and as a Pantheus, i.e. All-God, he
appears on the amulets with the head of a cock (Phoebus)
or of a lion (Ra or Mithras), the
body of a man, and his legs are serpents which terminate in scorpions,
types of the Agathodaimon. In his
right hand he grasps a club, or a flail, and in his left is a round or
oval shield."
(E. A. Wallis Budge's
Amulets and Talismans)
Ancient mythologists placed Abraxas among the Egyptian gods. Abraxas was also the
Persian sun god, and in
Syria he was a form of Iao (aspect or name for Yahveh,
Yahweh, or Jehovah). It is said that the name was created to replace the
unmentionable name of the Supreme Being.
Other
occultists, mainly demonologists, thought of Abraxas as a
demon, with similar appearance to the Gnostic god of the same
name (the head of a king and serpents forming his feet, with a whip in
his hand). It was very common for the gods and goddesses of pagan
religions and heretic cults to be lessen to the status of demons by
Christian writers. In fact, deities of heretic religions were the
main
source for Christian demons.
"A god in certain Asian theogonies. From his name is
derived the magical word Abracadabra. He is represented on amulets as having the head of
a cock, the feet of a dragon, and a whip in his
hand. Demonologists have made him a demon with the head of a king and with
serpents for his legs. The Egyptian
Basilides, second-century heretics,
looked upon him as their supreme god. Finding that the seven
Greek letters
contained in his name amounted to 365, the number of days in the year, they
placed at his command several spirits who presided over the 365 heavens and
to whom they attributed 365 virtues, one for each day. The
Basilides also
said that Jesus Christ, Our Savior, was but a benevolent spirit sent to
earth by Abrasax. They deviated from the doctrine of their leader."
(Colin de Plancy, 'Dictionnaire Infernal',
1863)
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