Abraxas Stones

Abraxas Stones are so called from having the word abrazas or abrasax engraved on them. They are cut in various forms, and bear a variety of cabalistic symbols, mostly composed of a human body, a fowl's head, and serpentine extremities. These gems are common in collections, and are represented as coming from Syria, Egypt, and Spain. The use of the name Abraxas was at first peculiar to the Gnostic sect of the Basilidians; and as the word, by taking the numerical value of its Greek letters, signifies the number 365, the Basilidians used it to indicate the 365 orders of spirits believed by them to emanate from the Supreme God (see BASILIDES). The doctrines and phrases of the sect were carried by the Priscillianists to Spain. But similar symbols were afterwards adopted by all sects given to magic and alchemy; and there is little doubt that the greater part of the abraxas stones were made in the middle ages as talismans.