Of these they reckoned 72,
from which, by different arrangements in sevens, they produced 720.
The principal of these was
אגלא, agla, which they disposed of in two triangles intersecting each other.
This they called the
"Shield of David," and pretended that it was a security against
wounds, and would extinguish fires, and was able to perform other wonders.
Abracadabra.
א ר ב א ד א כ א ר ב א
א ר ב א ד א כ א ר ב
א ר ב א ד א כ א ר
א ר ב א ד א כ א
א ר ב א ד א כ
א ר ב א ד א
א ר ב א ד
א ר ב א
א ר ב
א ר
א
This word, thus written, is
a charm for fever or ague, still used by some superstitious persons; it was
invented by Basilides, of Alexandria, in the beginning of the 2nd century, to
signify the 365 divine processions which he invented, (see Moreri); the value
of the letters according to the Greek numbers, make 365 thus:
Α Β Ρ Α Ξ Α Σ Abraxas.
1. 2. 100. 1. 60. 1. 200. 365.
Abraxas was a deity adored
by the author, and was the root of his charm, as the more mysterious they were
the more serviceable they were considered.
The mode of cure described in these verses, viz.
Inscribes Chartæ quod dicitur AbracadabraSæpius, et subter repetes, sed detrahe Summam,
Et magis atq. magis desint elementa figuris
Singula qua semper capies, et cætera figes
Donec in augustum redigatur Litera Conum.
His lino nexis collum redimere memento.
Talia languentis conducent vincula collo,
Lethalesq. abigent (miranda potentia) morbos.
Archæology.
Numerous Archæological
Societies now exist in different parts of England, of a local character, as in
Norfolk, Suffolk, Sussex, Cheshire; and from the Councils of which some printed
volumes of Transactions have issued, as appears by occasional references in the
public prints.
GeorgeWillis, Willis's Current Notes, No. 15, March 1852
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