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ABRAXAS, or ABRASAX

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Originally appearing in Volume V01, Page 72 of the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica.
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ABRAXAS, or ABRASAX , a word engraved on certain See also:antique stones, called on that See also:account Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets. or charms. The Basilidians, a Gnostic See also:sect, attached importance to the word, if, indeed, they did not bring it into use. The letters of a,(3paEar,in the See also:Greek notation,make up the number 365, and the Basilidians gave the name to the 365 orders of See also:spirits which, as they conceived, emanated in See also:succession from the Supreme Being. These orders were supposed to occupy 365 heavens, each fashioned like, but inferior to that above it; and the lowest of the heavens was thought to be the See also:abode of the spirits who formed the See also:earth and its inhabitants, and to whom was committed the See also:administration of its affairs. Abraxas stones are of very little value. In addition to the word Abraxas and other mystical characters, they have often cabalistic figures engraved on them. The commonest of these have the See also:head of a See also:fowl, and the arms and bust of a See also:man, and terminate in the See also:body and tail of a See also:serpent.

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