Abaton or Abatos, Gr. (α, βᾰτὸς, inaccessible). A term used generally to denote any inaccessible place, such as the cella of a temple, an adytum from which the profane were excluded. The term Abaton denoted more particularly a building in the city of Rhodes, which contained, together with two statues in bronze, a trophy commemorating a victory gained over the Rhodians. This memorial had been placed in the building by queen Artemisia, who had consecrated it to a divinity. To destroy it would have been a sacrilege, and as no one could be allowed to penetrate into the interior of the Abaton, without the defeat of the Rhodians becoming known, all access to it was forbidden.
Abezzo, Olio di, It. Strasburg Turpentine (q.v.).
Fig. 2. Ewer for ablutions (Persian).
Ablutions, Chr. There were various ablutions: that of the head (capitilavium), as a preparation for unction in baptism; that of the hands (aquamanile), during Mass, &c.; that of the feet (pedilavium), including the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor, performed on Maundy Thursday, by the Pope. (Fig. [2].)
Abococke, Med. Cap of estate, worn by kings on their helmets: “a huge cappe of estate, called Abococke, garnished with two rich crownes;” 15th century.
Fig. 3. A Lictor with the fasces, wearing the abolla.
Abolla, Gr. and R. (ἀναβολὴ, a throwing back and around). A cloak made of a piece of cloth folded double and fastened round the throat by a brooch. Abolla major was the name given to the ample blanket in which the Greek philosophers were accustomed to wrap themselves. This cloak was adopted by the philosophers as an instance of their humility, because it was mostly worn by the poorer classes at Rome. Fig. [3] is a representation of one of the lictors, with his fasces on his shoulder, and wearing the abolla.
Abraxas, Gr. (a mystical or cabalistic word formed of the Greek letters α, β, ρ, α, ξ, α, ς). Cut stones or gems of very various shapes, upon which are engraved the words Abraxas, Abrasax. They are also known as Basilidian stones or gems, because they constituted the symbols of the gnostic sect of the Basilidians. Certain peoples looked upon them as magic amulets against particular maladies and demoniacal influences. The impressions on these stones are very varied; cabalistic figures, the signs Α and Ω, and the word ΙΑΩ, which designates the Supreme Being. Numerous explanations have been sought for this term abraxas; some philologists assert that it comes from the Persian [or Pehlvi], and that it signifies Mithra; others derive it from the Hebrew, or the Coptic, while others again recognize in it only a numerical sign, the letters of which, added together, would give the number 365, or the number of days that make up the year, and in this case abraxas would symbolize the annual revolution of the sun. A figure often found upon Abraxas stones is that of a serpent with a radiated lion’s head (Chnouphis), which rears itself amid seven stars. The reverse of these stones often bears the inscription ΤΩ ΧΝΟΥΦΙ, “To Chnouphis.”