A Dictonary of Symbols

J.E Circlot
1982
Paperback
Language: English
Condition: C

"Abracadabra: Many words and phrases relating to rituals, talismans and pentacles have a symbolic meaning, either in themselves or in the way they are used, which is expressed either phonetically or more frequently, graphically. This words was in frequent use during the Middle Ages as a magic formula. It is derived from the Hebrew phrase abreq ad habra, meaning ' I hurl my thunderbolt even unto death'. It was usually inscribed inside an inverted triangle, or was set out so that it formed a triangle. This magic word has also been related to the Abracax of the Gnostics. It is in reality one of the names of the sun god Mithras.”