The Gnostics and Their Remains: Description of the Plates: Plate C

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Plate C
PLATE C.
1. Terminal figure, perhaps allusive by its form to Justinus' on, "The Cross."
The interminable legend surrounding it yields no intelligible words, but the
title below the Herme, occurs also on a talisman in the French
Cabinet. The reverse gives the Seven Vowels (or "Voices") that shroud the
Ineffable Name, which has never been uttered aloud since the day of the
destruction of the Temple, but is communicated only in half-whispers to every
Rabbi upon his ordination. It is a remarkable fact that a Talmudist, who
remembered the Second Temple, observes that this Holy Name was "warbled rather
than pronounced" in the course of the service; hence we may suspect the
possibility of imitating its sound by the permutation of vowels that form so
important an element in the construction of our talismans.
2. Father Nile, reclining and holding forth a cornucopia, emblematic of amity. *

As the "number of his Greek name," 365, is equivalent to that of Abraxas, it is

probable that, according to Kabbalistic rules, he here represents that god. This
explanation is supported by the type of the reverse, Horus, seated on the lotus,
addressed by the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Ablanathanalba, "Thou art
our Father!"
3. Horus seated in the baris, or sacred boat; the prow and poop whereof
terminate in the hawk's head of Phre, and the ox-head of Apis. He is here
addressed by the Ineffable Name.
4. The same deity, addressed as before by the salutation Ablanathanalba,
followed by an unintelligible word. The unskilful gem-engraver, unable to form
curves in the lettering, has given to his B the form of K, and increased the
difficulty of deciphering this legend.
5. The same, but now seated upon the scarab, type of the Creator,
p. 437
enclosed within the coiled serpent, emblem of Eternity. With these purely
Pharaonic sigils the reverse combines the name of the Jewish angel Michael, and
the Seven Vowels of the Ineffable Name; thus presenting an instructive example
of that reconciliation of, apparently, the most antagonistic creeds which is the
very foundation of Gnosticism.

Footnotes
436:* The type also of an Alexandrian coin of Hadrian.

Next: Plate D. Sigils of the Cnuphis Serpent