Page "Abraxas" Paragraph 1

The word is found in Gnostic texts such as the Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit, and also appears in the Greek Magical Papyri.

It was engraved on certain antique gemstones, called on that account Abraxas stones, which were used as amulets or charms.

As the initial spelling on stones was ' Abrasax ' ( Αβρασαξ ), the spelling of ' Abraxas ' seen today probably originates in the confusion made between the Greek letters Sigma and Xi in the Latin transliteration.

The word may be related to Abracadabra, although other explanations exist.