Abraxas

By Martin Krause

Topics: Apocryphal and Gnostic Literature
Author: Martin Krause
Printed pages: 14b
Original: Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia

abraxas, also documented as Abrasax, a word with the numerical value of 365 (α = 1, β = 2, ρ = 100, ξ = 60, σ = 200) (see alphabet in coptic, greek and mysteries of greek letters), which corresponds to the number of the days in a year. The name Abraxas designates a god who, in the Gnosis of Basilides, is the lord of the supernatural world (see gnosticism). In addition, Abraxas appears in magical papyri and on amulets (See

magical objects).

(See also: basilides; gnosis; magic.)

Bibliography

Dornseiff, F. Das Alphabet in Mystik und Magie, 2nd ed. Leipzig and Berlin, 1925. Nilsson, M. P. Geschichte der griechischen Religion, Vol. 2, p. 617. Munich, 1961. MARTIN KRAUSE

How to cite

Krause, Martin. “Abraxas,” in Aziz S. Atiya, ed. The Coptic Encyclopedia, Vol. 1, p. 14b. New York: Macmillan, 1991. Online at Claremont Coptic Encyclopedia: https://ccdl.claremont.edu/digital/collection/cce/id/30/.