Depending on your point of view, Abraxas is either an Egyptian Sun God
who was adopted by the early Christian Gnostics, or a demon from Hell
who is closely associated with Lucifer, although there is a case for the
former, since he was not demoted to the ranks of a demon until the
Middle Ages.
Abraxas was no ordinary god, however. As
Ruler of the First Heaven he had dominion over the cycles of birth,
death, and resurrection.
Whatever the case, the symbol for Abraxas is a very
unusual one. He has the head of a chicken, the torso of a man, and two
serpents for legs. He holds a shield in one hand and a flail-like
instrument in the other. The image of Abraxas was carved onto stones
(called Abraxas Stones) and the stone used as a magical
amulet. Occasionally Abraxas will appear driving a chariot drawn by four horses; these horses represent the elements.
This Abraxas symbol was adopted by the Knights
Templar, who used it on their seals. No one knows precisely why this
symbol was of particular significance, but a hidden secret within the
name “Abraxas” may provide a clue.
In Greek, the 7 letters are the initials of the first 7 planets in the Solar System.
Further, if we apply numerology to the name then it
adds up to 365, not only the number of days in a year but also the
number of the spirits that those same early Gnostics believed were
emanations from God.
Added to the mix is the speculation that the supreme
magical word, “Abracadabra,” may derive from the name Abraxas, which
means “harm me not.”
Post a Comment