NOTE: This glossary includes many notations and definitions taken direct from ABSU's lyrical magic(k). It is inspired by the glossary in Tara and has been expanded upon here to include subjects from all ABSU albums. Any additional information, corrections and updates are appreciated and can be sent to the webmaster.
The webmaster is eternally grateful to the following for their assistance in this project: (IAO) Andrea, Sean Conover, Barbara Francone, Proscriptor McGovern, Andrew Rathbun.
Barathrum: V.I.T.R.I.O.L.
Barathrum [Latin 'barathrum', from Ancient Greek βάραθρον (barathron)] - A pit, especially one at Athens into which criminals were thrown or also meaning "the abyss" or "hell."
V.I.T.R.I.O.L. - The alchemical motto for vitriol is “Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem,” “Visit the interior of the earth and rectifying (purifying) you will find the hidden stone.” The motto originated in L’Azoth des Philosophes by the 15th Century alchemist Basilius Valentinus. In chemistry, vitriol is iron or copper sulfate salts and their derivative, sulfuric acid. The name comes from the Latin for “glassy,” after the resemblance of iron sulfate to shards of green glass. Vitriol is symbolized alchemically as the “green lion,” a poisonous substance that appears when metal is degraded by acid. Sulfuric acid, or oil of vitriol, was used in the synthesis of the lapis philosophorum- the Philosopher’s Stone. One unique peoperty of sulfuric acid is the dissolution of metals- all except for gold, on which it has no effect.
Azarak, Zamilak, Aradia (as part of the "Eko Eko" Chant) - As part of the ritual "Eko, Eko" was an ancient invocation performed before and at the end of a ritual. So we find here four pagan gods, immortal forms of existence invoked before the coming of the rite body. And the same words close the opus, achieving the last word of the spell. Additional information here.
Aradia (possibly a corrupted form Erodiade, the Italian form of the name of Herodias) - One of the principal figures in the American folklorist Charles Leland’s 1899 work Aradia, or the Gospel of the Witches, which he believed to be a genuine religious text used by a group of pagan witches in Tuscany, a claim that has subsequently been disputed by other folklorists and historians. In Leland's Gospel, Aradia is portrayed as the messianic daughter of the goddess Diana and the god Lucifer (who is called god of the sun, leading others to replace him with Apollo ), who was sent to Earth in order to teach the oppressed peasants how to perform witchcraft to use against the Roman Catholic Church and the upper classes. The folklorist Sabina Magliocco has theorised that prior to being used in Leland's Gospel, Aradia was originally a supernatural figure in Italian folklore, who was later merged with other folkloric figures such as the sa Rejusta of Sardinia. Since the publication of Leland's Gospel, Aradia has become "arguably one of the central figures of the modern pagan witchcraft revival" and as such has featured in various forms of neopaganism, including Wicca and Stregheria, as an actual deity. Raven Grimassi, founder of "Stregheria", claims that Aradia was a historical figure named Aradia di Toscano, who led a group of "Diana-worshipping witches" in 14th-century Tuscany.
Cernunnos (KER noon os) - Conventional name given in Celtic studies to depictions of the horned god of Celtic polytheism. The name itself is only attested once, on the 1st-century Pillar of the Boatmen, but depictions of a horned or antlered figure, often seated cross-legged and often associated with animals and holding or wearing torcs, are known from other instances.
Charon - In Greek mythology, Charon or Kharon (/ˈkɛərɒn/ or /ˈkɛərən/; Greek Χάρων) is the ferryman of Hades who carries souls of the newly deceased across the rivers Styx and Acheron that divided the world of the living from the world of the dead. A coin to pay Charon for passage, usually an obolus or danake, was sometimes placed in or on the mouth of a dead person.[1] Some authors say that those who could not pay the fee, or those whose bodies were left unburied, had to wander the shores for one hundred years. In the catabasis mytheme, heroes — such as Heracles, Orpheus, Aeneas, Dante, Dionysus and Psyche — journey to the underworld and return, still alive, conveyed by the boat of Charon.
Holy Qabalah (Kabbala) - The Kabbala is an ancient Hebrew mystical system of thought. It is a symbolic representation of the path the Divine followed in the creation of the universe, including man. It is, by definition, man's process of returning to divinity along the same path. The word Kabbala comes from the Hebrew as QBLH, which has the literal translation of "to receive", which refers to the oral transmission of this esoteric knowledge. The Kabala is presented, symbolically in the form of The Tree of Life. The Tree contains ten centers called sephiroth, individually sephira, which are connected by 22 paths. The centers are arranged in three columns. The left column is called the Pillar of Severity and is generally colored black. This represents the female side of man and contains three sephira: Binah (Understanding), Geburah (Severity) and Hod (Splendor). The right column is called the Pillar of Mercy and is generally colored white. This represents the male side of man and also contains three sephira:
Chokmah (Wisdom), Chesed (Mercy) and Netzach (Victory). The middle pillar is called the Pillar of Equilibrium. It represents the balance between the male and female pillars. It contains four sephira: Kether (Crown), Tiphareth (Beauty), Yesod (Foundation) and Malkuth (Kingdom). The Kabbala requires four of these Trees, one for each world of the cosmos. These four worlds are: Atziluth, representing the archetypal world, pure Divinity, and Yod of the Hebrew Name of God. It corresponds to the Suit of Wands in the Tarot. The second world is Briah, representing the creative world, the Archangelic, and thee in the Hebrew Name of God. It corresponds to the Suit of Cups. The third world is Yetzirah, which represents the formative world, the Angelic, and Vau is the Hebrew name of God. It corresponds to the Suit of Swords. The fourth world is Assiah, representing the material world, man, and the final He in the Hebrew Name of God. It corresponds to the Suit of Coins.
Daath (Da'at) - the location (the mystical state) where all ten sephirot in the Tree of Life are united as one. In Da'at, all sephirot exist in their perfected state of infinite sharing. The three sephirot of the left column that would receive and conceal the Divine Light, instead share and reveal it. Since all sephirot radiate infinite self-giving Divine Light, it is no longer possible to distinguish one sephira from another, thus they are one. Da'at is not always depicted in representations of the sefirot, and could in a sense be considered an "empty slot" into which the gem of any other sefirot can be placed. Properly, the Divine Light is always shining, but not all humans can see it. The concealment or revelation of the Divine Light shining through Da'at does not actually happen in Da'at itself. It only seems that way from the human perspective within Malkuth. The perception of change can only occur in Malkuth. Humans who become self-giving like the Light become able to see it, and for them the benefits of Da'at's light seem "revealed." However, humans who remain selfish cannot see it, and for them its benefits seem "hidden."
Ninnigal (Ningal) - Goddess of reeds in the Sumerian mythology, daughter of Enki and Ningikurga and the consort of the moon god Nanna by whom she bore Utu the sun god, Inanna, and in some texts, Ishkur. She is chiefly recognised at Ur, and was probably first worshipped by cow-herders in the marsh lands of southern Mesopotamia.
Mastema - An angel who persecutes evil in Hebrew folklore. He carries out punishments for God. He tempts humans and tests their faith. He asked God to permit him to have demons as his subordinates. In the Zadokite Fragments and the Dead Sea Scrolls, he is the angel of disaster, the father of all evil, and a flatterer of God. His name is that of an arch-demon who first appears in the literature of Israel's Second Temple Period, as a personification of the Hebrew word "mastemah" (משטמה), meaning "hatred", "hostility", "enmity" or "persecution."
Nanna [aka Sin (Akkadian: Su'en, Sîn) or Nanna (Sumerian: DŠEŠ.KI, DNANNA)] - The god of the moon in Mesopotamian mythology. Nanna is a Sumerian deity, the son of Enlil and Ninlil, and became identified with Semitic Sin. The two chief seats of Nanna's/Sin's worship were Ur in the south of Mesopotamia and Harran in the north.
Marduk (Sumerian spelling in Akkadian: AMAR.UTU "solar calf"; perhaps from MERI.DUG; Biblical Hebrew מְרֹדַךְ Merodach; Greek Μαρδοχαῖος, Mardochaios) - The Babylonian name of a late-generation god from ancient Mesopotamia and patron deity of the city of Babylon, who, when Babylon became the political center of the Euphrates valley in the time of Hammurabi (18th century BCE), started to slowly rise to the position of the head of the Babylonian pantheon, a position he fully acquired by the second half of the second millennium BCE. According to The Encyclopedia of Religion, the name Marduk was probably pronounced Marutuk. The etymology of the name Marduk is conjectured as derived from amar-Utu ("bull calf of the sun god Utu"). The origin of Marduk's name may reflect an earlier genealogy, or have had cultural ties to the ancient city of Sippar (whose god was Utu, the sun god), dating back to the third millennium BCE. In the perfected system of astrology, the planet Jupiter was associated with Marduk by the Hammurabi period.
Utuk Xul - Xul = "Spirit" Invocation: "And I have seen Rites that can kill a man at a great distance. And Rites that can cause sickness to a man, wherever he lives, by the use of a simple charm, which must be spoken in its tongue and in no other, or so it is said. And this charm is as follows:
Azag Galra Sagbi Mu Unna Te
Namtar Galra Zibi Mu Unna Te
Utuk Xul Gubi Mu Unna Te
Ala Xul Gabi Mu Unna Te
Gidim Xul Ibbi Mu Unna Te
Galla Xul Kadbi Mu Unna Te
Dingir Xul Girbi Mu Unna Te
I Minabi-Ene Tashbi Aba Aba-Andibbi-Esh!"
Gates of Ganzir - "I have descended into the foul places of Death and Eternal Thirst, which may be reached through the Gate of GANZIR, which was built in UR in the days before Babylonian was."
Shabbathai - From Crowley's rituals. The passages are:
Magister Templi. Mother Of Heaven, Beloved Of The Stars, Wherefore Hast Thou Awakened The Poison Of Eld, The Dweller In Eternity?
Mater Coeli. Shabbathai.
Magister Templi. I. Brother Aquarius, To What End Are We Assembled?
Aquarius. [Rises And Whispers In His Ear.] Shabbathai.
All [Aloud]. Shabbathai.
Tetragrammaton - (from Greek τετραγράμματον, meaning "[a word] having four letters") refers to the Hebrew written form YHWH (Hebrew: יהוה), one of the names of the God of Israel which is used in the Hebrew Bible and elsewhere. This written Hebrew name is generally regarded by modern scholars as having been pronounced as Yahweh, although many variant pronunciations have been proposed. At some point a taboo on saying the name aloud developed in Judaism, and rather than pronounce the written name, other titles were substituted, including "Lord" (in Hebrew Adonai, in Greek Kyrios).
The Sun Of Tiphareth
Tiphareth - Tiferet ("Adornment") alternately Tifaret, Tifereth, Tyfereth or Tiphereth, is the sixth sefira in the kabbalistic Tree of Life. It has the common association of "Spirituality", "Balance", "Integration", "Beauty", "Miracles", "Compassion", and "Masculinity."
Apzu (Sumerian: abzu; Akkadian: apsû) also called engur, (Cuneiform:, LAGAB×HAL; Sumerian: engur; Akkadian: engurru) - Literally, ab='ocean' zu='to know' or 'deep' was the name for fresh water from underground aquifers that was given a religious quality in Sumerian and Akkadian mythology. Lakes, springs, rivers, wells, and other sources of fresh water were thought to draw their water from the abzu. In Sumerian cultureIn the city Eridu, Enki's temple was known as E2-abzu (house of the cosmic waters) and was located at the edge of a swamp, an abzu. Certain tanks of holy water in Babylonian and Assyrian temple courtyards were also called abzu (apsû). Typical in religious washing, these tanks were similar to the washing pools of Islamic mosques, or the baptismal font in Christian churches. In Sumerian cosmology, the Sumerian god Enki (Ea in the Akkadian language) was believed to have lived in the abzu since before human beings were created. His wife Damgalnuna, his mother Nammu, his advisor Isimud and a variety of subservient creatures, such as the gatekeeper Lahmu, also lived in the abzu. As a deity, Abzu (apsû) is depicted as a deity only in the Babylonian creation epic, the Enûma Elish, taken from the library of Assurbanipal (c 630 BCE) but which is about 500 years older. In this story, he was a primal being made of fresh water and a lover to another primal deity, Tiamat, who was a creature of salt water. The Enuma Elish begins:
"When above the heavens did not yet exist nor the earth below, Apsu the freshwater ocean was there, the first, the begetter, and Tiamat, the saltwater sea, she who bore them all; they were still mixing their waters, and no pasture land had yet been formed, nor even a reed marsh..."
Uruk (Cuneiform: URU UNUG; Sumerian: Unug; Akkadian: Uruk; Aramaic: Erech; Hebrew: Erech; Greek: Ὀρχόη Orchoē, Ὠρύγεια Ōrugeia; Arabic: وركاء, Warkā') - An ancient city of Sumer and later Babylonia, situated east of the present bed of the Euphrates river, on the ancient dry former channel of the Euphrates River, some 30 km east of modern As-Samawah, Al-Muthannā, Iraq. Uruk gave its name to the Uruk period, the protohistoric Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age period in the history of Mesopotamia spanning c. 4000 to 3100 BC, succeeded by the Jemdet Nasr period of Sumer proper. Uruk played a leading role in the early urbanization of Sumer in the mid 4th millennium BC. At its height c 2900 BC, Uruk probably had 50,000–80,000 residents living in 6 km2 of walled area; making it the largest city in the world at the time. The semi-mythical king Gilgamesh, according to the chronology presented in the Sumerian king list, ruled Uruk in the 27th century BC. The city lost its prime importance around 2000 BC, in the context of the struggle of Babylonia with Elam, but it remained inhabited throughout the Seleucid and Parthian periods until it was finally abandoned shortly before or after the Islamic conquest.
Roba El Khaliyeh - The "empty space", an Arabian desert. According to Lovecraft's Necronomicon in that desert the Al-Azif was written by the Arabian sorcerer he created, called Abdul Al-Hazred aka "The Mad Arab."
Dumuzi (1) - Dumuzid or Dumuzi, called "the Shepherd", from Bad-tibira in Sumer, was, according to the Sumerian King List, the fifth predynastic king in the legendary period before the Deluge. The list further states that Dumuzid ruled for 36,000 years. "Dumuzid the Shepherd" is also the subject of a series of epic poems in Sumerian literature. However, he is described in these tablets as king of Uruk, the title given by the King List to Dumuzid the Fisherman — a distinct figure said to have ruled sometime after the Flood, in between Lugalbanda "the Shepherd" and Gilgamesh.
Dumuzi (2) - "the Fisherman", originally from Kuara in Sumer, was the 3rd king in the 1st Dynasty of Uruk, and Gilgamesh's predecessor, according to the Sumerian king list. The king list also states that he singlehandedly captured Enmebaragesi, ruler of Kish, and it claims he ruled in Uruk for 100 years — far fewer than the 1200 years it ascribes his predecessor, Lugalbanda "the Shepherd." There may have been some confusion in the early Sumerian compositions between this figure and that of "Dumuzid the Shepherd", whom they call the king of Uruk, and who appears as a deity (Tammuz) in later works. However, the Sumerian king list says that Dumuzid the Shepherd ruled before the flood, and in Bad-tibira, not Uruk.
Zi Dingir Ana Kanpa - Invocation, meaning = "Spirit of the Earth Remember."
Edin Na Zu - a phrase used in a form of exorcism to banish evil spirits, this stems from the ancient Sumerian language and it's translation means: "Go to the desert."
Mashu - Ancient Sumerian mountains. Gilgamesh crossed them:
"Gilgamesh morns Enkidu and decides to visit Utnapishtim, the only human who does not die. He goes to the mountains of Mashu and passes by the guardian scorpion-demons into the darkness."
Nineveh - One of the greatest and most enchanting cities of the ancient times. It was part of the Assirya, and its ruins can be found on the left shore of the Tigri river. It was capital of the empire during the Assyrian dynasty. In year 612 BC it fells in the hands of Nabapolassar of Babylonia, and it was destroyed. Famous was also Assurbanipal's library.
Zagros - Mountain chain that stretches from Armenia to Baluchistan.
Sunkun Varloorni (Sunken Varloorni) - Used to create an essence that walks beyond the Abyss.
Arra - "Of the three symbols carved, the first is the Sign of our Race from beyond the Stars, and is called ARRA in the tongue of the Scribe who taught it to me, an emissary of the Elder Ones. In the tongue of the eldest city of Babylon, it was UR. It is the Sigil of the Covenant of the Elder Gods, and when they see it, they who gave it to us, they will not forget us."
Agga - "The second sign is the Elder Sign, and is the Key whereby the Powers of the Elder Gods may be summoned, when used with the proper words and shapes. It has a Name, and is called AGGA." It was also the king of Kish, defeated by Gilgamesh.
Bandar - "The third sign is the Sigil of the Watcher. It is called BANDAR. The Watcher is a Race sent by the Elder Ones. It keeps vigil while one sleeps provided the appropriate rituals and sacrifice has been preformed; else, if called, it will turn upon you."
Shabatu - The nineteenth hour of Shabatu must be three hours before dawn during the period of Shabatu. "One of three surviving fragments of the Euphratean planisphere calls the 11th (equinoctial) month (Shabatu/Shevat: January-February)" aka the winter equinox.
Mummu - The craftsman god. He is attendant to Ea and Apsu's vizier. He is very fond of Apsu and colludes with him to disperse the younger gods when they disturb Tiamat, even after Tiamat rejects the plan. Ea found out about his plan, hexed him and tied him up.
Tiamat - In Babylonian mythology, Tiamat is a chaos monster, a primordial goddess of the ocean, mating with Abzû (the god of fresh water) to produce younger gods. It is suggested that there are two parts to the Tiamat mythos, the first in which Tiamat is 'creatrix', through a "Sacred marriage" between salt and fresh water, peacefully creating the cosmos through successive generations. In the second "Chaoskampf" Tiamat is considered the monstrous embodiment of primordial chaos. Although there are no early precedents for it, some sources identify her with images of a sea serpent or dragon. In the Enûma Elish, the Babylonian epic of creation, she gives birth to the first generation of deities; she later makes war upon them and is killed by the storm-god Marduk. The heavens and the earth are formed from her divided body. Tiamat was known as Thalattē (as a variant of thalassa, the Greek word for "sea") in the Hellenistic Babylonian Berossus' first volume of universal history. It is thought that the name of Tiamat was dropped in secondary translations of the original religious texts because some Akkadian copyists of Enûma Elish substituted the ordinary word for "sea" for Tiamat, since the two names had become essentially the same, due to association.
Kingu (Also called Quingu) - Meaning "unskilled laborer," was a god in Babylonian mythology, and — after the murder of his father Apsu — the consort of the goddess Tiamat, his mother, who wanted to establish him as ruler and leader of all gods before she was slain by Marduk. Tiamat gave Kingu the 3 Tablets of Destiny, which he wore as a breastplate and which gave him great power. She placed him as the general of her army. However, like Tiamat, Kingu was eventually slain by Marduk. According to one traditional story, Marduk mixed Kingu's blood with earth and used the clay to mould the first human beings. Kingu then went to live in the underworld kingdom of Ereshkigal, along with the other deities who had sided with Tiamat. Enûma Elish.
Enidu (aka Enkidu - EN.KI.DU3 "Enki's creation") - A central figure in the Ancient Mesopotamian Epic of Gilgamesh. Enkidu was first created by Anu, the sky god, to rid Gilgamesh of his arrogance. In the story he is a wild man, a Tarzan figure, raised by animals and ignorant of human society until he is bedded by Shamhat. Thereafter a series of interactions with humans and human ways bring him closer to civilization, culminating in a wrestling match with Gilgamesh, king of Uruk. Enkidu embodies the wild or natural world, and though equal to Gilgamesh in strength and bearing, acts in some ways as an antithesis to the cultured, urban-bred warrior-king. Enkidu then becomes the king's constant companion and deeply beloved friend, accompanying him on adventures until he is stricken ill. The deep, tragic loss of Enkidu profoundly inspires in Gilgamesh a quest to escape death by obtaining godly immortality. Older sources sometimes transliterate his name as Enkimdu, Eabani, or Enkita. Enkidu is a modern variant.
Anzu - Zu, also known as Anzu and Imdugud, in Sumerian, (from An "heaven" and Zu "to know", in the Sumerian language) is a lesser divinity of Akkadian mythology, and the son of the bird goddess Siris. He was conceived by the pure waters of the Apsu and the wide Earth. Both Zu and Siris are seen as massive birds who can breathe fire and water, although Zu is alternately seen as a lion-headed eagle (cf: The Griffin). Zu as a lion-headed eagle, ca. 2550–2500 BC, LouvreAnzu was a servant of the chief sky god Enlil, guard of the throne in Enlil's sanctuary, (possibly previously a symbol of Anu), from whom Anzu stole the Tablet of Destinies, so hoping to determine the fate of all things. In one version of the legend, the gods sent Lugalbanda to retrieve the tablets, who in turn, killed Anzu. In another, Ea and Belet-Ili conceived Ninurta for the purpose of retrieving the tablets. In a third legend, found in The Hymn of Ashurbanipal, Marduk is said to have killed Anzu. In Sumerian and Akkadian mythology, Zu is a divine storm-bird and the personification of the southern wind and the thunder clouds. This demon, half man and half bird, stole the "Tablets of Destiny" from Enlil and hid them on a mountaintop. Anu ordered the other gods to retrieve the tablets, even though they all feared the demon. According to one text, Marduk killed the bird, but in another text it died through the arrows of the god Ninurta. The bird is also referred to as Imdugud or Anzu. In Babylonian, the deity associated with cosmogeny, represented as stripping the father of the gods of umsimi, usually translated "crown" but, as it was on the seat of Bel it was actually the "ideal creative organ." "Ham is the Chaldean Zu, and both are cursed for the same allegorically described crime," which parallels the mutilation of Uranos by Kronos and of Set by Horus.
Tir Na N'og (teer na nogue) - Old Irish: Tír inna n-Óc "Land of the Young" - The most popular of the Otherworlds in Irish mythology. It is perhaps best known from the story of Oisín, one of the few mortals who lived there, who was said to have been brought there by Niamh of the Golden Hair (Niamh Chinn Óir). It was where the Tuatha Dé Danann settled when they left Ireland's surface, and was visited by some of Ireland's greatest heroes. Tír na nÓg is similar to other mythical Irish lands such as Mag Mell and Ablach. Tír na nÓg was considered a place beyond the edges of the map, located on an island far to the west. It could be reached by either an arduous voyage or an invitation from one of its fairy residents. The isle was visited by various Irish heroes and monks in the echtrae (Adventure) and immram (Voyage) tales popular during the Middle Ages. Contrary to popular assumption, Tír na nÓg was not an afterlife for deceased heroes, but instead, a type of earthly paradise populated by supernatural beings, which a few sailors and adventurers have been fortunate enough to happen upon during their journeys. This otherworld was a place where sickness and death do not exist. It was a place of eternal youth and beauty. Here, music, strength, life, and all pleasurable pursuits came together in a single place. Here happiness lasted forever; no one wanted for food or drink. It is roughly similar to the Greek Elysium, or the Valhalla of the Norse, though with notable, distinct and important differences. Tír na nÓg plays a major role in the tale of Oisín and Niamh. To get to Tír na nÓg an adventurer needed a guide; in Oisín's case, Niamh plays the role. They travel together on a magic(k)al horse, able to gallop on water, to the Blessed Realm, and the hero spends some time there. Eventually homesickness sets in and Oisín wants to return to his native land. He is devastated to learn three hundred years have passed in Ireland since he had been with Niamh, though it seemed to him only one. He goes home on Niamh's magic(k)al horse, but she warns him that if he lets his feet touch the ground, he will be barred from Tír na nÓg forever; however, the truth is that the weight of all those years would descend upon him in a moment, and he would wither with age and die. While Oisín is searching for his family, the Fianna, he helps three hundred men move a stone by lifting and throwing it in one hand and in the process falls from the horse and ages in an instant. It is suggested that Oisín fell from his horse in the area of Elphin, County Roscommon. This story bears a striking similarity to many other tales, including the Japanese tale of Urashima Tarō, though any actual connection between any of these tales is doubtful.
Ulster - One of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" Irish: rí ruirech. In modern times, clusters of counties have been attributed to certain provinces but these clusters have no legal status. The province itself, while enjoying common usage and forming a strong part of local identity, has no official function for local government purposes. The name Ulster derives from the Irish Cúige Uladh (IPA: [ˈkuːɟ ˈʌlˠu, ˈʌlˠi]) meaning "The fifth of Uladh", a reference to the five regions into which ancient Ireland was divided. In the English language, the first part of the name ("Ul")refers to the Ulaidh tribes inhabiting this northernmost region. The latter part of the name ("ster") derives either from the Irish tír or the Old Norse staðr, both of which translate as "land" or "territory." Ulaidh (or Cúige Uladh) has historically been anglicized as Ulagh or Ullagh and Latinized as Ulidia or Ultonia. The latter two have yielded the terms Ulidian and Ultonian. The Irish word for someone or something from Ulster is Ultach. Words that have been used in English are Ullish and Ulsterman/Ulsterwoman. Northern Ireland is often referred to as 'Ulster',[ despite including only six of Ulster's nine counties.
Annwvyn - (Annwvn, Annwyn, Annwyfn or Annwfyn) 'The Otherworld' in Welsh mythology. Ruled by Arawn, or much later by Gwyn ap Nudd, it was essentially a world of delights and eternal youth where disease is absent and food is ever-abundant. It later became Christianised and identified with the land of souls that had departed this world. In modern Breton, "Anaon" is synonymous with paradise rather than hell and the phrase "mont da Anaon", literally "to go to Anaon", is a euphemism for "to die." Name and etymologyMiddle Welsh sources suggest that the term was recognised as meaning "very deep" in medieval times. The appearance of a form antumnos on an ancient Gaulish curse tablet, however, suggests that the original term may have been *ande-dubnos, a common Gallo-Brittonic word that literally meant "underworld." The pronunciation of Modern Welsh Annwn is [ˈanːʊn].
Emer (ev'er) - In modern Irish Éimhear, or, erroneously, Eimhear or Éimear,[1] daughter of Forgall Monach, is the wife of the hero Cú Chulainn in the Ulster Cycle of Irish mythology. The Ulstermen searched all over Ireland for a suitable wife for Cú Chulainn, but he would have none but Emer. He visited her at Forgall's house at Lusk, County Dublin, and wooed her by trading cryptic riddles with her. Emer would accept Cú Chulainn as a husband, but only when his deeds justified it. However, Forgall was opposed to the match. He came to Ulster in disguise and suggested that Cú Chulainn should train in arms with the renowned warrior-woman Scáthach in Scotland, hoping the ordeal would be too much for him and he would be killed. Cú Chulainn took up the challenge. He learned all the arts of war from Scáthach, and while he was there slept with her rival Aoife, or Aífe, leaving her pregnant. In the meantime, Forgall offered Emer to Lugaid mac Noís, a king of Munster. However, when he heard that Emer loved Cú Chulainn, Lugaid refused her hand. Cú Chulainn returned from Scotland fully trained, but Forgall still refused to let him marry Emer. Cú Chulainn stormed Forgall's fortress, killing twenty-four of Forgall's men, abducted Emer and stole Forgall's treasure. Forgall himself fell from the ramparts to his death. An ally of Forgall's, Scenn Menn, tried to stop the fleeing couple, but Cú Chulainn killed him in single combat at a ford. Having proved his prowess, Emer now agreed to marry him. The name Emer comes from life of the Cú. Conchobar mac Nessa, the king of Ulster, had the "right of the first night" over all marriages of his subjects. He was afraid of Cú Chulainn's reaction if he exercised it in this case, but would lose his authority if he didn't. A solution was found - Conchobar would sleep with Emer on the night of the wedding, but Cathbad the druid would sleep between them.
Cuchulainn (koo hoo lin or koo chul-inn) - Irish for "Culann's Hound"; and sometimes known in English as Cuhullin ( /kəˈhʊlɨn/), is an Irish mythological hero who appears in the stories of the Ulster Cycle, as well as in Scottish and Manx folklore. The son of the god Lug and Deichtine (sister of Conchobar mac Nessa), his childhood name was Sétanta. He gained his better-known name as a child after he killed Culann's fierce guard-dog in self-defence, and offered to take its place until a replacement could be reared. At the age of seventeen he defended Ulster single-handedly against the armies of queen Medb of Connacht in the epic Táin Bó Cúailnge ("Cattle Raid of Cooley"). It was prophesied that his great deeds would give him everlasting fame, but that his life would be a short one. This is the reason why he is compared to the Greek hero Achilles. He is known for his terrifying battle frenzy or ríastrad, (translated by Thomas Kinsella as "warp spasm" and by Ciaran Carson as "torque") in which he becomes an unrecognisable monster who knows neither friend nor foe. He fights from his chariot, driven by his loyal charioteer Láeg, and drawn by his horses, Liath Macha and Dub Sainglend. In more modern times, Cú Chulainn is often referred to as the "Hound of Ulster."
Mjollnir - The hammer of Thor, a major god associated with thunder. Distinctively shaped, Mjölnir is depicted in Norse mythology as one of the most fearsome weapons, capable of leveling mountains. Though generally recognized and depicted as a hammer, Mjölnir is sometimes referred to as an axe or club. In the 13th century Prose Edda, Snorri Sturluson relates that the Svartálfar Sindri, the brother of Brokkr, made Mjölnir while in a contest with Loki to see who could make the most wonderful and useful items for the Gods and Goddesses in Asgard. The Prose Edda gives a summary of Mjölnir's special qualities in that, with Mjölnir, Thor:
... would be able to strike as firmly as he wanted, whatever his aim, and the hammer would never fail, and if he threw it at something, it would never miss and never fly so far from his hand that it would not find its way back, and when he wanted, it would be so small that it could be carried inside his tunic.
Epona - In Gallo-Roman religion, Epona was a protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. She was particularly a goddess of fertility, as shown by her attributes of a patera, cornucopia, ears of grain and the presence of foals in some sculptures suggested that the goddess and her horses were leaders of the soul in the after-life ride, with parallels in Rhiannon of the Mabinogion. Unusually for a Celtic deity, most of whom were associated with specific localities, the worship of Epona, "the sole Celtic divinity ultimately worshipped in Rome itself," was widespread in the Roman Empire between the first and third centuries CE.
The Third Storm Of Cythruál
Cythrául - Irish Gaelic term for either "Celtic Hell", "abyss", or "the life of destruction." The Third Storm... is our own conceptualization meaning that it's clearly "Our Third Album." We wanted a rather "catchy" title for this opus and since Absu is the Sumarian term for "abyss" or "the Kith of Mummu Tiamat", we thought the Cythrául term would be the best analogy to possibly make. I personally believe Cythrául is an actual underworld for lads and laddies, as some might speculate it as fantasy or in your terminology, "fictional." Words directly from Sir Proscriptor.
Esharra - It was a city of the Assyrian empire. In particular: "Marduk smashed the weapons of Tiamat's army and put images of them at the gates to the underworld. He set up his temple at Esharra and his seat in Babylon. The gods honored him as king."
Ugalla-Demons - These creatures appear often in the Sumerian (where they are called gallu-demons) and Assyrian mythology (where they are called also galla-demons). They have the power to alterate their shape and appearance.
Imhullu - "With the net, the gift of Anu, held close to his side, he himself raised up Imhullu the atrocious wind, the tempest, the whirlwind, the hurricane, the wind of four and the wind of seven, the tumid wind worst of all. All seven winds were created and released to savage the guts of Tiamat, they towered behind him. Then the tornado Abuba his last great ally, the signal for assault, he lifted up. He mounted the storm, his terrible chariot, reins hitched to the side, yoked four in hand the appalling team, sharp poisoned teeth, the Killer, the Pitiless, Trampler, Haste, they knew arts of plunder, skills of murder. He posted on his right the Batterer, best in the mêlée; on his left the Battle-fury that blasts the bravest, lapped in this armor, a leaping terror, a ghastly aureole; with a magic(k) word clenched between his lips, a healing plant pressed in his palm, this lord struck out."
Seven Tablets - The Seven Tablets of Destiny, linked to Ellil, god of winds and storms (maybe it's also connected tp Imhullu): "He guards the "tablets of destiny", which allow him to determines the fate of all things animate or inanimate. They was once stolen from him by a Zu, a storm- bird (a bird with some human qualities). They were recovered and Zu faced judgment by Ellil."
Utu (Akkadian rendition of Sumerian UD "Sun", Assyro-Babylonian Shamash "Sun") - The Sun god in Sumerian mythology, the son of the moon god Nanna and the goddess Ningal. His brother and sisters are Ishkur and the twins Inanna and Ereshkigal. Utu is the god of the sun, justice, application of law, and the dispensation of the fates of the dead. He is usually depicted as wearing a horned helmet and carrying a saw-edged weapon not unlike a pruning saw. It is thought that every day, Utu emerges from a mountain in the east, symbolizing dawn, and travels either via chariot or boat across the Earth, returning to a hole in a mountain in the west, symbolizing sunset. Every night, Utu descends into the underworld to decide the fate of the dead. He is also depicted as carrying a mace, and standing with one foot on a mountain. The sun god is only modestly mentioned in Sumerian mythology with one of the notable exceptions being the Epic of Gilgamesh. In the myth, Gilgamesh seeks to establish his name with the assistance of Utu, because of his connection with the cedar mountain. Gilgamesh and his father, Lugalbanda were kings of the first dynasty of Uruk, a lineage that Jeffrey H. Tigay suggested could be traced back to Utu himself. He further suggested that Lugalbanda's association with the sun-god in the Old Babylonian version of the epic strengthened "the impression that at one point in the history of the tradition the sun-god was also invoked as an ancestor." Marduk is spelled AMAR.UTU in Sumerian, literally, "the calf of Utu" or "the young bull of the Sun."
Ea - Enki or Enkil (Sumerian: dEN.KI(G)) is a god in Sumerian mythology, later known as Ea in Akkadian and Babylonian mythology. He was originally patron god of the city of Eridu, but later the influence of his cult spread throughout Mesopotamia and to the Canaanites, Hittites and Hurrians. He was the deity of crafts (gašam); mischief; water, seawater, lakewater (a, aba, ab), intelligence (gestú, literally "ear") and creation (Nudimmud: nu, likeness, dim mud, make bear). He was associated with the southern band of constellations called stars of Ea, but also with the constellation AŠ-IKU, the Field (Square of Pegasus). Beginning around the second millennium BCE, he was sometimes referred to in writing by the numeric ideogram for "40," occasionally referred to as his "sacred number." A large number of myths about Enki have been collected from many sites, stretching from Southern Iraq to the Levantine coast. He figures in the earliest extant cuneiform inscriptions throughout the region and was prominent from the third millennium down to Hellenistic times. The exact meaning of his name is uncertain: the common translation is "Lord of the Earth": the Sumerian en is translated as a title equivalent to "lord"; it was originally a title given to the High Priest; ki means "earth"; but there are theories that ki in this name has another origin, possibly kig of unknown meaning, or kur meaning "mound." The name Ea is allegedly Hurrian in origin while others [5][6] claim that it is possibly of Semitic origin and may be a derivation from the West-Semitic root *hyy meaning "life" in this case used for "spring", "running water." In Sumerian E-A means "the house of water", and it has been suggested that this was originally the name for the shrine to the God at Eridu.
Lapis lazuli - (sometimes abbreviated to lapis) is a relatively rare semi-precious stone that has been prized since antiquity for its intense blue color. Lapis lazuli was being mined in the Badakhshan province of Afghanistan as early as the 3rd millennium BC, nd there are sources that are found as far east as in the region around Lake Baikal in Siberia. Trade in the stone is ancient enough for lapis jewelry to have been found at Predynastic Egyptian and ancient Sumerian sites, and as lapis beads at neolithic burials in Mehrgarh, the Caucasus, and even as far from Afghanistan as Mauritania.
Anu - In Sumerian mythology, Anu (also An; (from Sumerian *An = sky, heaven)) was a sky-god, the god of heaven, lord of constellations, king of gods, Consort of Antu, spirits and demons, and dwelt in the highest heavenly regions. It was believed that he had the power to judge those who had committed crimes, and that he had created the stars as soldiers to destroy the wicked. His attribute was the royal tiara. His attendant and minister of state was the god Ilabrat. He was one of the oldest gods in the Sumerian pantheon, and part of a triad including Enlil, god of the air and Enki, god of water. He was called Anu by the Akkadians. By virtue of being the first figure in a triad consisting of Anu, Enlil, and Enki (also known as Ea), Anu came to be regarded as the father and at first, king of the gods. Anu is so prominently associated with the E-anna temple in the city of Uruk (biblical Erech) in southern Babylonia that there are good reasons for believing this place to have been the original seat of the Anu cult. If this is correct, then the goddess Inanna (or Ishtar) of Uruk may at one time have been his consort.
Ellil - Enlil = EN = Lord + LÍL = Storm, "Lord (of the) Storm") - The name of a chief deity listed and written about in Sumerian religion, and later in Akkadian, Hittite, Canaanite and other Mesopotamian clay and stone tablets. The name is perhaps pronounced and sometimes rendered in translations as Ellil in later Akkadian, Hittite, and Canaanite literature. In later Akkadian, Enlil is the son of Anshar and Kishar. Enlil was considered to be the god of breath, wind, loft and breadth (height and distance).
Mushussu (formerly also read as sirrušu, sirrush) - A creature depicted on the reconstructed Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon, originally dating to the 6th century B.C. It is a mythological hybrid, a scaly dragon with hind legs like an eagle's talons and feline forelegs. It also has a long neck and tail, a horned head, a snakelike tongue and a crest. The form mušḫuššu is the Akkadian nominative of the Sumerian MUŠ.ḪUS, lit. "reddish snake" sometimes also translated as "fierce snake"; or loosely[by whom?] as "splendor serpent" (MUŠ is the Sumerian term for "serpent." The reading sir-ruššu is due to a mistransliteration in early Assyriology.).
Belet-ili [aka Ninhursag (NIN.ḪURSA) or Ninkharsag] - The earth and mother goddess, one of the seven great deities of Sumer. She is principally a fertility goddess. Temple hymn sources identify her as the 'true and great lady of heaven' and kings of Sumer were 'nourished by Ninhursag's milk'. She is typically depicted wearing a horned head-dress and tiered skirt, often with bow cases at her shoulders, and not infrequently carries a mace or baton surmounted by an omega motif or a derivation, sometimes accompanied by a lion cub on a leash. She is the tutelary deity to several Sumerian leaders. Nin-hursag means "lady of the mountain" (from Sumerian NIN "lady" and ḪAR.SAG "mountain, foothill." She had many names including Ninmah ("Great Queen"); Nintu ("Lady of Birth"); Mamma or Mami (mother); Aruru probably connected with Homeric arura (arable land, land generally). Belet-Ili (lady of the gods, Akkadian). According to legend her name was changed from Ninmah to Ninhursag by her son Ninurta in order to commemorate his creation of the mountains. As Ninmenna, according to a Babylonian investiture ritual, she placed the golden crown on the king in the Eanna temple. Some take the view that Ki ("Earth") the primordial goddess of the earth and consort of An (sky), was identical to or an earlier form of Ninhursag. This may very well be the case, since some authorities argue that Ki was never regarded as a deity in her own right in the historical period. There is no evidence of a cult for the goddess and the name appears in a limited number of Sumerian creation texts. As Ki, Ninhursag would be the mother of Enlil, whereas in other sources she is his sister. Some of the names above were once associated with independent goddesses (such as Ninmah and Ninmenna), who later became identified and merged with Ninhursag, and myths exist in which the name Ninhursag is not mentioned.
Balkan Hills - Earliest home of mountain Celts was ranges of Balkans.
Cnihts and Cnihthad - A knight or high ranking warrior.
Tanistry - A Gaelic system for passing on titles and lands. In this system the Tanist (Irish: Tánaiste; Scottish Gaelic: Tànaiste; Manx: Tanishtey) was the office of heir-apparent, or second-in-command, among the (royal) Gaelic patrilineal dynasties of Ireland, Scotland and Man, to succeed to the chieftainship or to the kingship.
Kurgarra (Me) - In Sumerian mythology, a me (Sumerian, conventionally pronounced [mɛ]) or ñe [ŋɛ] or parşu (Akkadian, [parsˤu]) is one of the decrees of the gods foundational to those social institutions, religious practices, technologies, behaviors, mores, and human conditions that make civilization, as the Sumerians understood it, possible. They are fundamental to the Sumerian understanding of the relationship between humanity and the gods.
Offal - "And I have seen them turn into many strange kinds of beast as they gathered in their appointed places, the Temples of Offal, whereupon horns grew from heads that had not horns, and teeth from mouths that had not such teeth, and hands become as the talons of eagles or the claws of dogs that roam the desert areas, mad and howling, like unto those who even now call my name outside this room!"
Ur (Sumerian: Urim; Sumerian Cuneiform: URIM2KI or URIM5KI; Akkadian: Uru) - An important Sumerian city-state in ancient Mesopotamia located at the site of modern Tell el-Muqayyar in Iraq's Dhi Qar Governorate. Once a coastal city near the mouth of the Euphrates on the Persian Gulf, Ur is now well inland, south of the Euphrates on its right bank. The city dates from the Ubaid period circa 3800 BC, and is recorded in written history as a City State from the 26th century BC, its first recorded king being Mesh-Ane-pada. The city's patron deity was Nanna (in Akkadian Sin), the Sumerian and Akkadian (Assyrian-Babylonian) moon god, and the name of the city is in origin derived from the god's name, URIM2KI being the classical Sumerian spelling of LAK-32.UNUGKI, literally "the abode (UNUG) of Nanna (LAK-32)." The site is marked by the ruins of the Ziggurat of Ur, which contained the shrine of Nanna, excavated in the 1930s. The temple was built in the 21st century BC (short chronology), during the reign of Ur-Nammu and was reconstructed in the 6th century BC by Nabonidus, (the Assyrian born last king of Babylon) in the 6th century BC. The ruins cover an area of 1,200 metres (3,900 ft) northwest to southeast by 800 metres (2,600 ft) northeast to southwest and rise up to about 20 metres (66 ft) above the present plain level.
Shugurra and Steppe - "Inanna placed the shugurra, the crown of the steppe, on her head. She went to the sheepfold, to the shepherd. She leaned back against the apple tree. When she leaned against the apple tree, her vulva was wondrous to behold. Rejoicing at her wondrous vulva, the young woman Inanna applauded herself."
Geshtinanna - Also known as Ngeshtin-ana, A minor goddess in Sumerian mythology, the so-called "heavenly grape-vine." The sister of Dumuzi and consort of Ningisida, she is involved in the account of Dumuzi trying to escape his fate at the hands of Inana and Ereshkigal. In her house he is changed into a gazelle before being caught and transported to the underworld. In sumerian mythology, she is the daughter of Enki and Ninhursag. When Dumuzi died, Geshtinanna lamentated days and nights. After her death, she became the goddess of wine and cold seasons. She is a divine poet and interpreter of dreams.
Huluppu-Tree - The huluppu tree is transplanted by Inanna from the banks of the Euphrates to her garden in Uruk, where she finds that:
."..a serpent who could not be charmed
made its nest in the roots of the tree,
The Anzu bird set his young in the branches of the tree,
And the dark maid Lilith built her home in the trunk."
Eire - The Irish name for the island of Ireland and the sovereign state of the same name. The modern Irish Éire evolved from the Old Irish word Ériu, which was the name of a Gaelic goddess. Ériu is generally believed to have been the matron goddess of Ireland, a goddess of sovereignty, or simply a goddess of the land. The origin of Ériu has been traced to the Proto-Celtic reconstruction *Φīwerjon- (nominative singular Φīwerjū < Pre-Proto-Celtic -jō). This suggests a descent from the Proto-Indo-European reconstruction *piHwerjon-, likely related to the adjectival stem *piHwer- (cf. Sanskrit pīvan, pīvarī and pīvara meaning "fat, full, abounding"). This would suggest a meaning of "abundant land." This Proto-Celtic form became Īweriū or Īveriū in Proto-Goidelic. It is highly likely that explorers borrowed and modified this term. During his exploration of northwest Europe (circa 320 BCE), Pytheas of Massilia called the island Ierne (written Ἰέρνη). In his book Geographia (circa 150 CE), Claudius Ptolemaeus called the island Iouernia (written Ἰουερνία). Based on these historical accounts, the Roman Empire called the island Hibernia. Thus, the evolution of the word would follow as such:
Proto-Celtic *Φīwerjon- (nominative singular *Φīwerjū) - Proto-Goidelic *Īweriū or *Īveriū - Old Irish Ériu - Modern Irish Éire
Another etymology is from the Gaelic: ì (island) + thairr (west) + fónn (land), which together give ì-iar-fhónn, or "westland isle." This is similar in meaning to the Norse name for Irish people, "west men", which subsequently gave its name to the Icelandic island of Vestmannaeyjar.
Gorias - The City of Gorias. One of the cities from which the Tuatha de Danaan came before coming to Ireland. Its master of wisdom was Esras, who provided the spear of Lugh. Inside its walls was kept a sword (in the Hymn "the silver sword of the moon"), one of the four great treasures the Tuatha De Danaan brought to Ireland from the north.
Finias - The city of Finias. In the Hymn they speak about a "flaming lancet of the sun", and surely they are talking about the Spear of Victory, one of the four great treasures the Tuatha De Danaan brought to Ireland from the north, and kept inside the walls of Finias.
Kali Ma - Also known as Kālikā, is the Hindu goddess associated with empowerment, shakti. The name Kali comes from kāla, which means black, time, death, lord of death, Shiva. Kali means "the black one." Since Shiva is called Kāla—the eternal time—Kālī, his consort, also means "Time" or "Death" (as in time has come). Hence, Kāli is considered the goddess of time and change. Although sometimes presented as dark and violent, her earliest incarnation as a figure of annihilation still has some influence. Various Shakta Hindu cosmologies, as well as Shākta Tantric beliefs, worship her as the ultimate reality or Brahman. She is also revered as Bhavatārini (literally "redeemer of the universe"). Comparatively recent devotional movements largely conceive Kāli as a benevolent mother goddess. Kālī is represented as the consort of Lord Shiva, on whose body she is often seen standing. She is associated with many other Hindu goddesses like Durga, Bhadrakali, Sati, Rudrani, Parvati and Chamunda. She is the foremost among the Dasa Mahavidyas, ten fierce Tantric goddesses.
Siva (Shiva) - is a major Hindu deity, and is the Destroyer or Transformer among the Trimurti, the Hindu Trinity of the primary aspects of the divine. He is regarded as the most powerful god in hinduism. Shiva is a yogi who has notice of everything that happens in the world and is the main aspect of life. Yet one with great power, he lives a life of a sage at Mount Kailash. In the Shaiva tradition of Hinduism, Shiva is seen as the Supreme God and has five important works: creator, preserver, destroyer, concealer, and revealer (to bless). In the Smarta tradition, he is regarded as one of the five primary forms of God. Followers of Hinduism who focus their worship upon Shiva are called Shaivites or Shaivas. Shaivism, along with Vaiṣṇava traditions that focus on Vishnu and Śākta traditions that focus on the goddess Shakti, is one of the most influential denominations in Hinduism. Shiva is usually worshipped in the abstract form of Shiva linga. In images, he is represented as immersed in deep meditation or dancing the Tandava dance upon Apasmara, the demon of ignorance in his manifestation of Nataraja, the Lord of the dance. He is also the father of the deities Ganesha, Murugan (Kartikeya), and Ayyappan (Dharma Sastha).
Crom Croich (Crom Dubh or Crum Dubh) - Meaning "black crooked [one]", alt. "Dark Crom", was a Celtic god, for which see The Voyage of Bran, Book II. He may have been represented by megaliths. Dé Domhnaigh Crum-Dubh – "Crom Dubh Sunday" – is known in Ireland as the first Sunday in August, but in Lochaber is applied to Easter. It appears in the Scottish saying:
"DiDòmhnaich Crum Dubh, plaoisgidh mi an t-ugh.
"Crooked black Sunday, I’ll shell the egg."
The exact origin of this saying is unknown, but there is some evidence that Crom Dubh was a fertility god.[citation needed] In later times, he came to be considered an evil god as Christianity spread through Europe as part of the suppression by Christians of the worship of Pagan deities. The element "dubh" (black, dark) had sinister connotations in Christianity, this also perhaps leading to a large part of the eventual association.
Fir Bolg - In Irish mythology the Fir Bolg (Fir Bholg, Firbolg) were one of the races that inhabited the island of Ireland prior to the arrival of the Tuatha Dé Danann.
Falias - The city of Falias. It was one of four cities from whence the Tuatha de Danaan came to Ireland. Its master of wisdom was called Morfessa, and it was from here that the Stone of Fal derived. The Stone of Fal cried out under every legitimate king of Ireland who stepped upon it.
Murias - One of the four cities from which the Tuatha de Danaan came to Ireland. Its master of wisdom was Semias, who entrusted the cauldron of knowledge to the Dagda.
Epona - In Gallo-Roman religion, Epona was a protector of horses, donkeys, and mules. She was particularly a goddess of fertility, as shown by her attributes of a patera, cornucopia, ears of grain and the presence of foals in some sculptures suggested that the goddess and her horses were leaders of the soul in the after-life ride, with parallels in Rhiannon of the Mabinogion. Unusually for a Celtic deity, most of whom were associated with specific localities, the worship of Epona, "the sole Celtic divinity ultimately worshipped in Rome itself," was widespread in the Roman Empire between the first and third centuries CE.
Ler - or Lir (meaning "Sea" in Old Irish; Ler and Lir are the nominative and genitive forms, respectively) is a sea god in Irish mythology. His name suggests that he is a personification of the sea, rather than a distinct deity. He is named Allód in early genealogies, and corresponds to the Llŷr of Welsh mythology. Ler is chiefly an ancestor figure, and is best known as the father of the god Manannán mac Lir, who appears frequently in medieval Irish literature. Ler does have some prominence of his own; most famously as the titular king in the tale The Children of Lir.
Inis Fail (in'ish fô il) - the Tuatha Dé Danann metonymically named Ireland Inis Fáil (inis meaning island), and from this 'Fál' became an ancient name for Ireland.
Tuatha De Danaan (or Danann) - A race of people in Irish mythology. In the invasions tradition which begins with the Lebor Gabála Érenn, they are the fifth group to settle Ireland, conquering the island from the Fir Bolg. The Tuatha Dé Danann are thought to derive from the pre-Christian deities of Ireland. When the surviving stories were written, Ireland had been Christian for centuries, and the Tuatha Dé were represented as mortal kings, queens and heroes of the distant past; however there are many clues to their former divine status. A poem in the Book of Leinster lists many of them, but ends "Although [the author] enumerates them, he does not worship them." Goibniu, Creidhne and Luchta are referred to as Trí Dé Dána ("three gods of craftsmanship"), and the Dagda's name is interpreted in medieval texts as "the good god." Even after they are displaced as the rulers of Ireland, characters such as Lugh, the Morrígan, Aengus and Manannán mac Lir appear in stories set centuries later, showing all the signs of immortality. They also have many parallels across the Celtic world: Nuada is cognate with the British god Nodens; Lugh is a reflex of the pan-Celtic deity Lugus; Tuireann is related to the Gaulish Taranis; Ogma to Ogmios; the Badb to Catubodua.
In The Eyes Of Ioldánach
Asaru - see Marduk.
Atu - Appears as the worm that represents the six fold star (hexagram) and the moon. Atu appears as a magician or Magus. So it's also the essence of occult knowledge and sorcery, one of the two forces which fight in the same essence, a dualism of magic(k) (rappresented by Atu) and battle.
Hallstatt - The Hallstatt culture was the predominant Central European culture from the 8th to 6th centuries BC (European Early Iron Age), developing out of the Urnfield culture of the 12th century BC (Late Bronze Age) and followed in much of Central Europe by the La Tène culture. By the 6th century BC, the Hallstatt culture extended for some 1000 km, from the Champagne-Ardenne in the west, through the Upper Rhine and the upper Danube, as far as the Vienna Basin and the Danubian Lowland in the east, from the Main, Bohemia and the Little Carpathians in the north, to the Swiss plateau, the Salzkammergut and to Lower Styria. It is named for its type site, Hallstatt, a lakeside village in the Austrian Salzkammergut southeast of Salzburg. The culture is commonly linked to Proto-Celtic and Celtic populations in its western zone and with (pre-)Illyrians in its eastern zone.
Ioldánach ('The All-Craftsman', or 'The Many Gifted') - Surname conferred upon Lugh Lamfada, the Sun-god. The Sun-god PAR EXCELLENCE of all Celtica, his eric from sons of Turenn for murder of his father, Cian; slays Balor and is enthroned in his stead; fiery spear of Lugh; his worship widely spread over Continental Celtica; father, by Dectera, of CuChulain; Cymric deity Llew Llaw Gyffes corresponds with Lugh. # 238: Lugh, the Lord of Light! - The Celtic Mercury played an important part in the lives of the Celts, being patron of (according to Caesar) all the arts, travelling and influence in commerce. A god of many skills, or perhaps the god of the essence and distribution of skill, as war was included as an artistic skill by the Celts; we can see this in the CuChulain saga, where the warrior's ability and his weapons and costume are described in high poetry. The grandson of Balor, born of Ethniu and Cian, and fostered by Manannan and Tailtiu. He was the guardian of the spear of Gorias which killed all opponents. When the Tuatha de Danaan were oppressed by the Fomorians, he came to their aid. He was refused entrance to the hall of their king, Nuadu, but eventually was allowed in because he combined many skills in one person, for which he was called Samildanach (Many-Skills). He became the Tuatha's substitute king in place of Nuadu who was a blemished or Wounded King because he had lost his hand in battle. After Nuadu's death Lugh himself became the Tuatha's rightful king. He killed his grandfather Balor by piercing him through his baleful eye. He was the spiritual father of CuChulain, and fought in his son's place in order to give him rest during his lone combat at the ford. Lugh is analogous to Llew and to the warrior Llwch Llawwynawc who helped Arthur obtain the cauldron from Annwn. His mythos passed partially into that of Lancelot. His many epithets describe him as being skilful with weapons and crafts. Everything about him is of the light and of the victorious sun over darkness.
Manannan - Manannán mac Lir is a sea deity in Irish mythology. He is the son of the obscure Lir (in Irish the name is "Lear", meaning "Sea"; "Lir" is the genitive form of the word). He is often seen as a psychopomp, and has strong affiliations with the Otherworld, the weather and the mists between the worlds. He is usually associated with the Tuatha Dé Danann, although most scholars consider him to be of an older race of deities. Manannán figures widely in Irish literature, and appears also in Scottish and Manx legend. He is cognate with the Welsh figure Manawydan fab Llŷr.
Factha (faht'na) - The giant, King of Ulster. Nessa, his wife; father of Conor; succeeded at death by his half-brother, Fergus. Chief physician of Eochaid Airem.
Aonbharr - The Enbarr of Manannán, or Enbarr of the Flowing Mane, also written variously as Aenbharr, Aonbharr, Aonbárr, Énbarr, Enbhárr (Early mod. Irish: Aonḃaɼɼ Mhanannáin) was the name of the horse that Lugh Lamh-fada (Irish: Luġ Láṁḟada) had which could travel over both land and sea. In the story [A]oidhe Chloinne Tuireann (The Fate of the Chirdren of Tuireann), Lugh refuses to loan it claiming that would constitute a loan of a loan, but afterwards had to concede to lending out the self-navigating currach (or coracle or boat) called the Sguaba Tuinne, or "Wave-sweeper."
The meaning of this name has variously explained as "One Mane" (O'Curry) [aon "one" + barr "hair, tip (as well as mane of a horse")], "Froth" (Cormac's glossary) [én "water" + barr [cacumen, spuma] ], and "unique supremacy" (Mackillop's Dictionary). The name Embarr (meaning "imagination") seems to have been spuriously ascribed as being Niamh's horse. A certain horse does carry Oisín and his would-be bride Niamh across sea to Tír na nÓg, according to the Laoi Oisín as ṫír na n-óg (The lay of Oisín in the land of youth) by Mícheál Coimín (1676–1760).
Fragarach ('The Answerer') - A sword forged by the gods, Manannan wielded it as his weapon before passing it on to Lugh (his foster son). It was given to Cúchulainn by Lugh, and later to Conn of the Hundred Battles. It was said that no one could tell a lie with Fragarach at his or her throat, thus the name 'Answerer'. It was also said to place the wind at the user's command and could cut through any shield or wall, and had a piercing wound from which no man could recover.
Storax - Styrax officinalis. In numerous books of ancient magick appears as fundamental component the oil of Storax. Here an example I took: "...Is to be made by putting Benjamin into a glass retort, and fitting it to the furnace. Then increase the fire without any fear of combustion, and you will obtain a fragent oil, to be used in precious ointments. So Oil of Storax, will be mixed..."
Tara
Absu (Abzu/Apsû) – Although it can sometimes rain hard in southern Mesopotamia, it was anciently believed that springs, wells, streams, rivers, and lakes drew their water from and were replenished from a freshwater ocean, which laid beneath the “Absu” or “Engur.” (The salt sea, on the other hand, surrounded the Earth) The Absu was the particular realm and home of the wise Deus Enki (Ea), his wife Damgamalnuna (Damkina), and his mother Nammu, who was also inhabited by a number of creatures subordinate to him. Enki was thought to have occupied the Absu since before the ‘creation’ of mankind. Absu was also the name of a primal creature, the enthusiast of Tiamat, and when Ea killed Absu, he set up his home on the dead creature’s body, whose name was henceforth transferred to Ea’s residence. Marduk, Ea’s son, was called “the firstborn son of the Absu.” Enki’s temple at Eridu (Offal) was known as “E-Absu,” or “Absu temple.” The Underworld, or sometimes classified as Hell, was located even further down, beneath the Absu. Most importantly, it was necessary to cross the Huber River to reach the Underworld and that stream was the Absu to some people. The Underworld was always known to be complete darkness, dusty, and malicious. All the dead, without exception, wander there, thirsting for water and having only dust to eat. Sometimes they were described as naked or clothed with feathered wings like birds.
Aonbharr – Manannán Mac Lir’s magic(k)al horse that could travel land and sea.
Ard Rígh – Also known as the “High King.” According to the ancient bardic king lists, Slaigne the Fir Bolg was the first High King of Ireland and from his accession until 1 AD, there were a total of 107 High Kings: 9 Fir Bolg, 9 Dé Danaan, and 89 Milesians. There was also evidence that a High King system existed in Alba (Scotland), with Coinneach Mac Alpín recognized as the first High King of Alba in 844 AD. In Celtic society, kings were elected to office by their chieftains and klan assemblies. There was good argument for the existence of the High Kingship as an institution elsewhere in the Celtic world, for the Celtic tribal and provincial systems of power that produced trivial kingdoms over which High Kings ruled.
Art (Aenfer) – High King of Ireland and Tara (Son of Conn of the Hundred Battles). He was also known as Art Aenfer. (Solitary) According to the king lists, he ruled at Tara from 220 to 250 AD. He won the love of Delbchaem (Fair Shape), and his son by another maiden become the notorious Cormac Mac Art, patron of Fionn Mac Cumhail and the Fianna. In one tale, Conn manipulated the goddess Bécuma Cneisgel and his concubine. She had been expelled from the Underworld and because of her, the County of Meath grew infertile and miserable. She was also jealous of Art and, while playing fidchell with him, contrived to force him into a journey involving terrible dangers. Art succeeded in his expedition, returned with Delbchaem, and was able to banish Bécuma. Art eventually perished at the battle of Moy Muchruinne. On his way there, he passed the night at the house of Olc Acha, a smith. There he slept with the smith’s daughter, Achtan, and gave her his sword, golden ring, and ceremonial clothing for safekeeping, so that her child would claim the inheritance. The child was Comac Mac Art.
Bron – Fleetingly referred to in the “Book of Leinster” as the son of Lir, brother of Manannán, and a god of the Underworld.
Cairn Warrior – Another term for Celtic warrior.
Crom Croich – A golden icon worshipped by Tigernmas (Lord Of Death) on Magh Slécht (Plain of Adoration), where human sacrifices were offered.
Crowley, Aleister (born c. 1875 AD/Name at birth: Edward Alexander Crowley) – Aleister was raised in a strict Christian family, but discovered the occult while he was an undergraduate student at Cambridge University. Combining eastern mysticism with western science, he came up with a religious system called “The Law of Thelema.” Referring to himself as “The Great Beast” or “the wickedest man alive” earned him many disciples, but tales of drugs, orgies, and magic(k) ceremonies gave him an amoral name. His many philosophical and occult writings formed the backbone of the contemporary movement called “magic(k).”
Cythrául – Identified as two primary existences: destruction and life. Also known as the Celtic underworld or “Hell.”
Dagda – The father (All-Father) of all gods in Celtic mythology.
Emain Ablhach – Also known as Emain of the Apple Trees; an island paradise ruled by Manannán Mac Lir.
Eremon – The first Milesian king of Ireland.
Fachtna – There were several of this name, but the foremost was the king of Ulster who married Nessa, daughter of Eochaidh Sálbuidhe. He was also the natural son of the druid Cathbad, who had an amorous affair with Nessa as well.
Fir Bolg – The name signified “men of lightning.” They came to Ireland after the Nemedians and represented the genuine pre-Goidelic population of Ireland.
Fragarch – Also known as “The Answerer;” the sword of the sea god Manannán Mac Lir.
Gulch – A deep, narrow ravine or chasm.
Hé – The Queens represented the powers of this letter in the Name. They represented the second stage in the process of conception whose fourth and last state was material realization. They were represented as seats upon thrones. This emphasized the fact that they were appointed to exercise definite functions.
Hexagram (Unicursal) – The six-fold of Thelemic “modus operandi” and self-veneration. At first, it had been declared ‘impossible’ to draw it, but it was accomplished. The lines, however, were strictly Euclidean; they had no breadth.
Î – In the Yî King, the fiery part of Fire was represented by this 27th Hexagram.
Ifernain, Equitant – Overlapping, as a leaf whose base embraces the leaf next within or above it. To ride on horseback; horsemanship or knighthood. Ifernain is the Irish surname of Equitant’s regiment.
Immortality – The Celts were one of the first Europeans to develop a doctrine of immortality of the soul. The basic belief was that death was only a changing of place and that life went on with all it formed in the Underworld. Constant exchanges of souls were always taking place between the two realms: death in this world brought a soul to the Underground, and death in the Underworld brought a soul to this world. The Celts also celebrated birth with mourning and death by joy. Immortality doubtlessly accounted for the reckless bravery of the Celts in battle too. Diodorus Siculus reserved this claim saying the Celts developed this philosophy from Pythagoras; however, the third possibility was that the similarity between the Celtic philosophy and Pythagoras’ philosophy (which was of reincarnation, not an exchange of souls between two realms) was superficial. Transmigration of souls through all living things, a taught by Pythagoras, was not the Celtic theory. The Celtic theory was rebirth of the soul in human bodies from one world to the other. It was arguable that the Celtic and Pythagorean doctrine were mutually exclusive.
Ioldánach – The craftsman (All-Craftsman) of all gods in Celtic mythology; god of wisdom.
Kăn – In the Yî King, the fiery part of Fire was represented by this 51st Hexagram.
Knight of Wands – The Fire of Fire (Lightning Flash). He ruled from the 21st degree of Scorpio to the 20th degree of Sagittarius. The first out of the sixteen Court cards in Tarot.
Magh Slétcht – Sometimes given the reputation as Moyslaught. The “Plain of Adoration,” which was said to be located in both Cavan and Meath Counties, is where Crom Croich was erected.
Manannán Mac Lir – The major god of sea and wind in Celtic mythology; son of Lir.
Markele, Jean (born c. 1900’s AD?) – French author and historian who uncovered the rise and fall of Celtic civilization and author of “Les Celts et la Civilisation Celtique.”
McGovern, Proscriptor – To denounce or condemn; prohibit; interdict. A Proscriptor is an aggressor or one who banishes; one who proscribes the names of the dead in a requiem. McGovern is the Scottish surname of Proscriptor’s regiment.
Meath – The County where Tara is/was located in Ireland and sometimes recognized as the “Royal Meath.”
Midhe – Eponym of County Meath (The Middle province). In the days of the Ulster cycle, Ireland consisted of only four provinces. Having been the fifth province established by the High King Tuathal Teachmhair (130-160 AC), High Kings could be independent of the politics within the other four. Hence the term “Royal Meath,” which still survives to this day.
Milesians/Milesius – The followers of Milesius and the ancestors of the Gaels. Milesius’ original name was Golamh, but he became recognized under the name Milesius, which means, “soldier” in Latin.
Mongán – Son of Manannán Mac Lir by the Queen of the Dáln Araidi. He was born in circumstances that closely resembled those of Arthur of Britain; the Arthur legend was doubtlessly crafted from the Irish parable. A historical Mongán was recorded as ruling Ulster in 625 AD.
Music – Music has always played its part in mythology. Magicians, druids, heroes, and even deities have all seemed to be accomplished in music. Various instruments – harp, stringed instruments, bagpipes, and timpani – were mentioned by name. In Ireland, the earliest surviving example of Irish musical notation and composition were contained in an eleventh Century manuscript. Irish and Scottish musicians were celebrated in the earliest of times.
Myalticism/Myaltic Rite – Mysticism or magic(k)al rite.
Paralda – Female deity of all spells.
Prince Of Wands – The Air of Fire (Wind). He ruled from the 21st degree of Cancer to the 20th degree of Leo. The third out of sixteen Court cards in Tarot.
Princess of Wands – The Earth of Fire (Mountains). She ruled from the 21st degree of Aries to the 20th degree of Taurus. The fourth out of sixteen Court cards in Tarot.
Queen Of Wands – The Water of Fire (Rain). She ruled from the 21st degree of Pisces to the 20th degree of Aries. The second out of sixteen Court cards in Tarot.
Shaftiel – The deity of all shadows in Sumerian mythology. Also, Shaftiel has no surname.
Shape-changer/changing – A common motif in Celtic myths and tales. Gods often changed their shapes (especially Manannán Mac Lir) and were able to curse those who displeased them.
Siculus, Diodorus (born c. 90 BC) – A Greek historian who was born in Agyrium, Sicily. Wrote “Historical Library,” which was the history of the world in 40 books from the creation of time through the Gallic Wars to the first years of the Empire.
Strabo (STRABON) (born c. 63 BC) – A Greek geographer and philosopher who recognized the Celts barbaric level of affluence.
Suí – In the Yî King, the watery part of Fire was represented by this 17th Hexagram.
Tacitus, Cornelius (born c. 55 AD) – A Roman historian who always had several denigration towards the Roman Empire.
Tara – Temuir and Temair in Old Irish. In County Meath, this main royal hill of the High Kings was regarded as the Irish capital. The name derived from the goddess Tea, wife of Eremon, the first High King Of Ireland. The ancient sites dates back to 2000 BC and included an intricate complex of fortifications. Five roads anciently led to those provinces, three of which are still discernable. Tara was finally abandoned as the seat of the High Kings in 560 AD, neither cursed nor neglected.
Tea – See Tara
Tor – A mount, knoll, or hill.
Tuatha de Danan – The people of the goddess Dana that were driven underground by Milesians.
Vau – The Princes represented the powers of this letter in the Name. The Prince was the Son of the Queen (the old King’s daughter) by the Knight who has won her; he was therefore represented as in a chariot, going forth to carry out the combined energy of his parents. He was the intellectual image of their union. His action was consequently more enduring than that of his forebears. In one aspect, indeed, he acquired a relative permanence because he was the published record of what has been done in secret, i.e. Shaftiel and Proscriptor’s magnitude is equal to Vau. NOTE: The Princesses had no Zodiacal attribution whatsoever.
Visnech (Uisneach) – A vast hill in County Meath ad the navel of Ireland.
Vorago – Latin translation for pit, chasm, or abyss.
Yî – In the Yî King, the airy part of Fire was represented by this 42nd Hexagram.
Yodh – The Knights represented the powers of this letter in the Name. They were most sublime, original, active part of the Energy within the Element; for this reason they were represented on horseback and clad in complete armour, i.e. Equitant’s magnitude is equal to Yodh.
Yrp Lluyddawc – Fleetingly referred to in the “Book of Leinster” as the Celtic god of battle and warfare.
Absu
Individual song notations following all word definitions by Proscriptor.
Ushum-gal - Possibly a version of Kagiri Ushumgal (Path of the Dragon) which is a draconic magic(k) path that has been passed down through the generations of the High Magus's family. After long study and much meditation it was decided to use a Sumerian translation for it in honour of our main gods.
Erech - Hebrew name ארך, meaning 'to extract', 'draw out', or 'long') According to the Book of Genesis, Erech was an ancient city in the land of Shinar, the second city built by king Nimrod. While earlier scholars such as Jerome (4th century) had identified Erech with the Syrian city of Edessa (now within Turkey), the modern consensus is that it refers to the Sumerian city-state of Uruk, in south Mesopotamia.
Eridu (Cuniform: NUN.KI; Sumerian: eriduki; Akkadian: irîtu) - An ancient Sumerian city in what is now Tell Abu Shahrain, Dhi Qar Governorate, Iraq. Eridu was considered the earliest city in southern Mesopotamia, and is one of the oldest cities in the world. Located 12 km southwest of Ur, Eridu was the southernmost of a conglomeration of Sumerian cities that grew about temples, almost in sight of one another. In Sumerian mythology, Eridu was originally the home of Enki, who was considered to have founded the city, later known by the Akkadians as Ea. His temple was called E-Abzu, as Enki was believed to live in Abzu ("Deep Ocean"), an aquifer from which all life was believed to stem.
Amy (Ahh me') - Concerning a prevailing demon to have been an imperative part of the underworld alongside Nergal.
Voor - First of the four diverse signs and is the "true" symbol of the Elder Ones. From the Necronomicon: "Of Diverse Signs, These most potent signs shall be so formed with thy left hand when thou employeth them in ye Rites, Ye first sign is that of Voor and in nature it be ye true symbol of ye Old Ones. Make ye thus whenever thou wouldst supplicate Those that ever waite beyond the Threshold."
Nunbarshegunu - “The Wise Old Woman” of Nippur (one of the most ancient of all the Sumerian cities).
Ninlil - In Sumerian religion, Ninlil ("lady of the open field" or "Lady of the Air"), also called Sud, in Assyrian called Mullitu, is the consort goddess of Enlil. Her parentage is variously described. Most commonly she is called the daughter of Haia (god of stores) and Nunbarsegunu (or Ninshebargunnu [a goddess of barley] or Nisaba). Another source says she is the daughter of Anu (aka An) and Antu. Other sources call her a daughter of Anu and Nammu. Theophilus G. Pinches noted that Nnlil or Belit Ilani had seven different names (such as Nintud, Ninhursag, Ninmah, etc.) for seven different localities.
Enlil - (nlin), (EN = Lord + LÍL = Storm, "Lord (of the) Storm") - Name of a chief deity listed and written about in Sumerian religion, and later in Akkadian, Hittite, Canaanite and other Mesopotamian clay and stone tablets. The name is perhaps pronounced and sometimes rendered in translations as Ellil in later Akkadian, Hittite, and Canaanite literature. In later Akkadian, Enlil is the son of Anshar and Kishar.
Kurnugi - Sumerian for "land of no return."
Ars Goetia - Part of 'The Lesser Key of Solomon' or Clavicula Salomonis Regis (the Clavicula Salomonis, or Key of Solomon is an earlier text referring to different material), is an anonymous 17th-century grimoire, and one of the most popular books of demonology. It has also long been widely known as the Lemegeton. More information here.
Zagan (also Zagam, from the Ars Goetia) - A Great King and President of Hell, commanding over thirty-three legions of demons. He makes men witty; he can also turn wine into water, water into wine, and blood into wine (according to Pseudomonarchia Daemonum blood into oil, oil into blood, and a fool into a wise man). Other of his powers is that of turning metals into coins that are made with that metal (i.e., gold into a gold coin, copper into a copper coin, etc.). Zagan is depicted as a griffin-winged bull that turns into a man after a while.
Vual - A mighty Great Duke of Hell (Ars Goetia), commanding thirty-seven legions of demons. He gives the love of women, causes friendship between friends and foes, and tells things past, present and to come. Vual is depicted as a dromedary that after a while changes shape into a man, and speaks the Egyptian language, but not perfectly, with a deep voice. Other spellings: Uvall, Voval, Vreal, Wal, Wall.
Kish (Sumerian: Kiš; transliteration: Kiŝki; cuneiform: Akkadian: kiššatu) - modern Tell al-Uhaymir (Babil Governorate, Iraq), and was an ancient city of Sumer. Kish is located some 12 km east of Babylon, and 80 km south of Baghdad (Iraq). Kish was occupied beginning in the Jemdet Nasr period (ca. 3100 BC), gaining prominence as one of the pre-eminent powers in the region during the early dynastic period.
The Sign of Koth - A symbol in H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu Mythos. It is only referenced by name in two stories, The Dream-Quest of Unknown Kadath and The Case of Charles Dexter Ward. Koth itself is referenced on other occasions. In at least one of the Sign's appearances it is ascribed effects of its own. Due to these ascribed effects and the appearance of the sign on doors and doorways in Lovecraft's original works later uses by other authors, such as in the Call of Cthulhu role playing game, have connected it with doors and their sealing. "It was the sign of Koth, that dreamers see fixed above the archway of a certain black tower standing alone in twilight—and Willett did not like what his friend Randolph Carter had said of its powers." ~H.P. Lovecraft; The Case of Charles Dexter Ward (Ch V, Sec 4).
Lamias (Lamia) - In ancient Greek mythology, Lamia (Greek: Λάμια) was a beautiful queen of Libya who became a child-eating daemon. Aristophanes claimed her name derived from the Greek word for gullet (λαιμός; laimos), referring to her habit of devouring children. Some accounts say she has a serpent's tail below the waist. This popular description of her is largely due to Lamia, a poem by John Keats published in 1819. Antoninus Liberalis uses Lamia as an alternate name for the serpentine drakaina Sybaris; however, Diodorus Siculus describes her as having nothing more than a distorted face. Later traditions referred to many lamiae; these were folkloric monsters similar to vampires and succubi that seduced young men and then fed on their blood.
Loshu - Lo Shu Square or the Nine Halls Diagram, often in connection with the Ho Tu figure and 8 trigrams, is the unique normal magic square of order three. Lo Shu is part of the legacy of the most ancient Chinese mathematical and divinatory (Yi Jing) traditions, and is an important emblem in Feng Shui, the art of geomancy concerned with the placement of objects in relation to the flow of qi 'natural energy'.
To Meta Ohpion (literally "To Target Ophion") - From: "Tarot: Mirror of the Soul : Handbook for the Aleister Crowley" : To Meta Ohpion is initiation or entrance.
Auebothiabathabaithobeuee - From the Necronomicon ('Unction of Khephnes Ye Egyptian'): "When ye Moon increaseth in her light place in an earthen crucible a goodly quantity of oil of ye Lotus, sprinkle with one once powdered mandragora and stir well with ye forked twig of ye wild thorn bush. Having so done utter ye incantation of Yebsu (taken fron diverse lines in ye papyrus) thus:
'I am the Lord of Spirits,
Oridimbai, Sonadir, Episghes,
I am Ubaste, Ptho born of Binui Sphe, Phas;
In the name of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
Give power to my spell O Nasira Oapkis Shfe,
Give power Chons-in-Thebes-Nefer-hotep, Ophois,
Give power! O Bakaxikhekh!'
Add to ye potion pinch of red earth, nine drops natron, for drops balsam of Olibanum and one drop blood (from thy right hand). Combine the whole with a like measure of fat of the gosling and place ye vessel upon ye fire. When all is rendered well and ye dark vapours begin to rise, make ye the Elder Sign and remove from ye flames. When the unguent has cooled place it within an urn of ye finest alabaster, which thou shalt keep in some secret place (known only to thyself) until thou shalt have need of it."
Barzai - Barzai the Wise was is high-priest of the Gods of Earth (the Great Ones) in Ulthar and one-time teacher of Atal. According to the story, he often delved into the unknown, reading such works as the Pnakotic Manuscripts and the Seven Cryptical Books of Hsan. He was the son of an aristocrat, which makes him skeptical of commoners' superstitions. He is said to have advised the burgesses of Ulthar when they passed their ban on cat-slaying. He vanished shortly after climbing to the top of Hatheg-Kla to see the gods reveling on its peak. Other stories contain references to the "Scimitar of Barzai."
Girra - Babylonian god of Fire and Heat
Sirrush - The mušḫuššu (formerly also read as sirrušu, sirrush) is a creature depicted on the reconstructed Ishtar Gate of the city of Babylon, originally dating to the 6th century B.C. It is a mythological hybrid, a scaly dragon with hind legs like an eagle's talons and feline forelegs. It also has a long neck and tail, a horned head, a snakelike tongue and a crest. The form mušḫuššu is the Akkadian nominative of the Sumerian MUŠ.ḪUS, lit. "reddish snake" sometimes also translated as "fierce snake";or loosely as "splendor serpent" (MUŠ is the Sumerian term for "serpent." The reading sir-ruššu is due to a mistransliteration in early Assyriology).
Neti - In Sumerian, Babylonian, and Akkadian mythology, a minor underworld god, the chief gatekeeper of the netherworld, and the servant of the goddess Ereshkigal. Neti features prominently in the epic legend of Inana's Descent into the Underworld when he opens the seven gates of the realm and admits the goddess, removing one emblem of her power at the threshold of each gate.
Bashmu - Sumerian; the symbolic animal of Ningiszida, a dragon.
Narr Marratu - The marshy area at the junction between the Persian Gulf and the three rivers.
Kingu (also spelled Qingu) - Meaning "unskilled laborer," was a god in Babylonian mythology, and — after the murder of his father Apsu — the consort of the goddess Tiamat, his mother, who wanted to establish him as ruler and leader of all gods before she was slain by Marduk. Tiamat gave Kingu the 3 Tablets of Destiny, which he wore as a breastplate and which gave him great power. She placed him as the general of her army. However, like Tiamat, Kingu was eventually slain by Marduk. According to one traditional story, Marduk mixed Kingu's blood with earth and used the clay to mould the first human beings. Kingu then went to live in the underworld kingdom of Ereshkigal, along with the other deities who had sided with Tiamat. Enûma Elish.
Lakhmu - Mesopotamian mythology - He was born from Abzu and Tiamat. Lakhamu then had three children; Anu, Anunnake and Igigi who all rose up to kill their grandparents. This titan was later killed by the sun god, Marduk in an epic battle with her ten monstrous siblings. Lakhmu had a twin brother called Lahmu. A modern day Satanic cult called The Temple of Black Light contains a ritual for sorcerers call upon the power of Tiamat to summon Lakhmu and the other ten creatures in a sacrificial ritual of eleven black candles.
Lakhamu (or Lahamu) - Mesopotamian mythology - the first-born daughter of Tiamat and Apsu in Akkadian mythology. With her brother Lahmu she is the mother of Anshar and Kishar, who were in turn parents of the first gods. Lahamu is sometimes seen as a serpent, and sometimes as a woman with a red sash and six curls on her head. It is suggested that the pair were represented by the silt of the sea-bed. There also parallels between the Sumerian Creation story and the Biblical Creation story in where Adam and Eve were the first-born of the gods.
Anunnaki (also transcribed as: Anunna, Anunnaku, Ananaki and other variations) - A group of Mesopotamian (Sumerian, Akkadian, Assyrian and Babylonian) deities. The name is variously written "da-nuna", "da-nuna-ke4-ne", or "da-nun-na", meaning something to the effect of "those of royal blood" or 'princely offspring'. Their relation to the group of gods known as the Igigi is unclear — at times the names are used synonymously but in the Atra-Hasis flood myth they have to work for the Anunnaki, rebelling after 40 days and replaced by the creation of humans.
Namtar (or Namtaru, or Namtara; meaning destiny or fate) - A hellish minor deity in Mesopotamian mythology, god of death, and minister and messenger of An, Ereshkigal, and Nergal. The son of Enlil and Erishkigal; he was born before his father raped the goddess Ninlil. Namtar was considered responsible for diseases and pests. It was said that he commanded sixty diseases in the form of demons that could penetrate different parts of the human body; offerings to him were made to prevent those illnesses. It is thought that the Assyrians and Babylonians took this belief from the Sumerians after conquering them. To some they were the spirit of fate, and therefore of great importance. Apparently they executed the instructions given him concerning the fate of men, and could also have power over certain of the gods. In other writings they were regarded as the personification of death, much like the modern concept of the Grim Reaper.
Gudua - Capital City of the Sumerian Underworld.
Gugalanna - In Mesopotamian mythology, Gugalanna (lit. "The Great Bull of Heaven" < Sumerian gu "bull", gal "great", an "heaven", -a "of") was a Sumerian deity as well as a constellation known today as Taurus, one of the twelve signs of the Zodiac. Gugalanna was the first husband of the Goddess Ereshkigal, the Goddess of the Realm of the Dead, a gloomy place devoid of light, who was dispatched by Inanna to punish Gilgamesh for his sins. Gugalanna was sent by the gods to take retribution upon Gilgamesh for rejecting the sexual advances of the goddess Inanna. Gugalanna, whose feet made the earth shake, was slain and dismembered by Gilgamesh and Enkidu. Inanna, from the heights of the city walls looked down, and Enkidu took the haunches of the bull shaking them at the goddess, threatening he would do the same to her if he could catch her too. For this impiety, Enkidu later dies. It was to share the sorrow with her sister that Inanna later descends to the Underworld.
Irra (or Lugal-Irra) - A Sumerian, Babylonian, and Akkadian god, probably a minor variation of Erra, the Babylonian plague god. The prefix Lugal means "lord." He is often coupled with Meslamtaea, the god of war.
Uttuku (or Utukku) - In Sumerian mythology, the utukku were a type of spirit or demon that could be either benevolent or evil. In Akkadian mythology, they were referred to as utukki, were seven evil demons who were the offspring of Anu and Antu. The evil utukku were called Edimmu or Ekimmu; the good utukku were called shedu. Two of the best known of the evil Utukku were Asag (slain by Ninurta) and Alû.
Ugallu - The “Big Weather-Beast,” inscribed U4/UD.GAL, Akkadian: ūmu rabû, meaning “big day,” was a lion-headed storm-demon who featured on protective amulets and apotropaic yellow clay or tamarisk figurines of the first millennium BC but had its origins in the early second millennium. The iconography changed over time, with the human feet morphing into an eagle’s talons and dressing him in a short skirt. He was one of the class of ud-demons (day-demons), personifying moments of divine intervention in human life.
Nisir - Supposedly the mountain today that is known as Pir Magrun (Gudrun) around Suleimani in Iraqi Kurdistan. According the Epic of Gilgamesh, Mt. Nisir is the resting place of the ship built by Utnapishtim. Old Babylonian cuneiform texts carefully describe where Mt. Nisir is to be found. Despite the precise descriptions in the Epic of Gilgamesh, the curious have never attempted to search for the remains of the giant ship of Mt. Nisir.
Between The Absu of Eridu & Erech - Erech, also known as the Sumerian Uruk, is an ancient Mesopotamian city located northwest of Ur in today’s southeastern Iraq. According to legend, it was built by Gilgamesh. Within the walls, excavations traced successive cities that date from the prehistoric Ubaid period, perhaps before 5000 BC, down to Parthian times. (126 BC-AD 224) Eredu, one of the oldest cultural seats in ancient Babylonia, is located a few miles south/southwest of Ur and mentioned in ancient records as the city of the deep. In it was a temple of Ea, god of the sea and of wisdom. Comprehensively speaking, the abyss lies directly between these two regions and the story line of the song describes how the Absu hastily turned into a bottomless gulf, yet unfathomable infernal pit underneath the ocean floor. There is an “Absu-Temple,” which is located in Eridu as well as an “Absu-Gate” being in Erech. This too was a meeting place for the gods and goddesses
of the netherworld, more or less.
Tense: Present
Night Fire Canonization - This song was profoundly inspired by a combination of theorists, such as Empedocles, (Fifth Century BC) Jacob Boehme (16th Century) and Kenneth Grant. (The Merovingian Mythos) The spirit, or Night Fire, reabsorbs all of the light that it has projected as an objective immortal spirit, the Sun at Midnight. The Dragon was separated into two beings, the male, who is the Howler in the Wastes of Nothingness, the Demon Lord of Time, and the female, who presides over all of the created Multiverse. (The prototype of manifestation) The explosive union of these two opens the gates of the Abyss. Then, the serpent fire rises to an explosion of ecstasy in the Abyss, vibrating its word and casting forth its star. The serpent fire interlaces itself with the water of space, and by this process the true Beast, the male aspect of the Dragon, opens the womb of the night, as his infinite light breaks open and causes her to appear as infinite darkness. This process is the means of the return to the supreme state represented by the Cosmos and is the true formula of Illumination. (Night Fire) When the urge to know is turned inwards instead of outwards, as it usually is, then the ego dies and the objective universe is dissolved. In the light of the illumination, the night fire, the Gnosis, is all that remains. Does that make sense? I didn’t think so. Let’s move forward, shall we?
Tense: Present
Amy - This song discusses the role of Amy and how he plays a significant part of the underworld. He is the 10th out of 14 demons to have been an imperative part of the underworld alongside Nergal.
Tense: Past
Nunbarshegunu - Nunbarshegunu is the mother of Ninlil as well as the old woman of Nippur. She convinces her daughter to marry Enlil to enchant him, so she can have full control of the underworld. Enlil raped Ninlil, gave birth to Sin (the moon god) and was finally banished from the underworld. Once this occurred, balance was finally restored between Kurnugi (underworld) and the cosmos.
Tense: Present
13 Globes - 13 Globes is a short story narrated by “Zagan” who is the 2nd spirit of Yog-Sothoth from the supplementary material of the Necronomicon: To Conjure Ye Globes. Instead of traditionally discussing each globe (spirit) and the powers each one possesses, I have decided to utilize numerological focus on four out of the 13 globes. (Primarily for astrological reasons)
2 = Zagan
5 = Durson
6 = Vual
7 = Scor
I, in 1st person tense, represent the globe “Zagan.” My globe has shifted trajectory (course) and now am stuck between the 6th and 7th globe, which are “Vual” and “Scor.” The only other globe out of the 13 that can guide me back to my original position is the 5th globe: “Durson.” This globe can reveal all paranormal secrets and tell of past/ancient times to help me (Zagan) return to my proper locality.
Tense: Present
Of The Dead Who Never Rest In Their Tombs Are The Attendance Of Familiar Spirits including: a.) Diversified Signs Inscribed b.) Our Earth of Black c.) Voor - Written in three movements, this song is a conceptual piece influenced by the supplementary material of the Necronomicon: Of Diverse Signs. The Elder Ones have blackened, yet tarnished the Earth with their curse for the dead to become immortal. The Elder Ones remind the dead of the four signs that can protect them; however, the dead must be extremely cautious because they must exploit them properly to banish menace and antagonism at the same time. NOTE: Voor is the first of the four diverse signs and is the “true” symbol of the Elder Ones.
Tense: Present
Magic(k) Square Cipher - This song represents the Seal of Saturn (Loshu) and its ruling Sephirah. (Binah) The magic(k) square of Saturn is a numerological table from one through nine, arranged in such a way that all rows add to 15. (1+5=6) This Kabbalisticly exemplifies the forces of containment, definition, limit, time, death and stagnation in ritual magic(k). Saturn (Binah) takes position of Daath at the apex, being the first Sephirah to manifest in the Macrocosm. Also, in numerological terms, the number 15 (1+5=6) or 6 represents Wands, Cups, Disks and Swords in the tenet of Thoth. The number 6 is the broken down into 4 Sephira’s of all the sixes, which are mentioned above.
3 Binah = Saturn
6 Tiphareth = Sol
Tense: Present
In The Name Of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee - This song is my interpretation of the Lord of Spirits and the incantation of Yebsu.
Tense: Present
Girra’s Temple - Girra, (also known as Gibil or Gerra) is the Sumerian god of Fire and was the son of Anu and the goddess Shala, Ishkur's wife. He provided humans with the means for making food more edible, by cooking it with fire. He also provided for the building of cities by hardening bricks of clay used for construction until they were hard as stone. Girra’s only known temple was the E-melamhush, 'House of Awful Radiance,' which was at Nippur. In my song, Girra was a fire god who had the ability to ignite himself or any object within sight, as he represented fire in its beneficial respects. I picture Girra sporting circlets of burnished copper around his hair and arms, and dressed in a belted leather kilt and leather sandals. When Girra self ignited, his body started smoking. As the process continued, he gave off increasing amounts of smoke from his shoulders until he flared and burst into flames, like a torch. When returning to normal state, the flames would die down and gradually disappear, leaving Girra’s body hot and smoldering afterwards.
Tense: Present
Those of the Void Will Re-Enter - Those of the void Will Re-Enter refers to servants, people of the arcane order, as the void represents the Annunaki in Sumerian mythology. The Annunaki were seven judges of the underworld and children of Anu who also sat before the throne of Ereshkigal. (Wife of Nergal) These “fates” waited at the gates of the underworld to judge newly-arrived souls. So, once the people enter the under worldly realm, they forget where they came from and their overall origins. They are reminded by the Annunaki that they were created from the blood (mixed with clay) of the minor god Geshtu-e. (Sumerian god of intelligence) Legend has it that he was slaughtered by the Annunaki and his mixture of blood and clay was used in the creation of mankind.
Tense: Present
Sceptre Command - Tense = 1st person - “I” Nergal, 2nd person - “You” Namtar & Mars (Gugalanna) and 3rd person – narrator Nergal is one of the chief deities in Gudua/Kuta. He loans Namtar (evil god, negative aspect of fact & disease bringer) his scepter to cast a spell to control the First Order in Gudua/Kata. In order to regulate atypical under-worldly chaos, Nergal calls upon Mars’ (Gugalanna) assistance to help with the spell. The incantation cannot be projected properly without the essence, yet illumination of Mars’ light shining directly in the “scepter of command.” With Nergal’s telekinesis into Namtar’s borrowed scepter and the rays shining from Mars, this creates a successful spell of triangular effect. Many occurrences take place during the spell, which include:
- “Order within chaos”
- Sun & High Summer: “I’m the burner”
- Nergal’s affiliation with Mars and why the spell would not work without his assistance
- “I’m a raging king, a furious one and a solar deity”
- Remember: the triangular light is symmetrical: Nergal’s telekinesis (sun’s rays) and Mars’ illuminating light is directed into Namtar’s scepter
- Nergal: “The sword – the lion”
- Namtar: “The disease – the pestilence”
- Mars: (Gugalanna) “My light reflecting from the sword – my wisdom into the lion’s head = a perfect Hyle and/or Chaos. (Abyss)
Conclusion: Nergal, Namtar and Mars successfully contain complete control of the chaos in Gudua/Kuta. The origin of elements (1, 2, & 3 – from the fifty gates of Intelligence) were trying to seep north past the surface of the earth; however, the spell was projected as the First Matter (abyss) was contained.
Tense: Present To Past
Ye Uttuku Spells - This song represents a demon’s spells in the beliefs and mythology of the Assyrians and Sumerians. There were two types of Uttuku: the souls of the dead that could not rest until they could be appeased and the truly evil spirits, which were said to emanate from the bile of Ea. Uttuku also manifest in horrifying images of men with animal heads, claws and horns. They dwelled in holes in rocks, caverns, and lonely ruins. These spirits brought disease, criminal thoughts, acts and disaster upon any human with whom they came in contact. Exotic terms used within the lyrics:
Ginyaatlie: Flood
Tedloonetaa: Shadow
Kukhwa: Star
Tense: Present
Twix Yesterday, the Day & the Morrow - This instrumental piece is actually the epilogue to In The Name Of Auebothiabathabaithobeuee
Tense: Past, Present & Future
Abzu
Notations by Proscriptor, taken from the "Abzu" Booklet.
Earth Ripper - This song is a recitation based on Ishum: the Epithet given to Ninurta after the Earth was split open from a devastating holocaust causing the Day of the Deluge. Inspired by the Ninth Tablet in Mesopotamian mythology, Ninurta was Enlil’s foremost son.
Preparedness in Magic(k) is as important as it is in War.
I am the Master of Magic(k) in its greatest and highest sense.
Never to fail, by will or weakness, I make the self-annihilation absolute.
I am none the less a thrusting force into the Abyss.
From the void comes a blare, yet a star which rips the Earth,
And our Order rejoices above that Abyss.
The Beast hath begotten one more asp in the Womb of the Queen,
His Concubine, The Scarlet Woman…
Plenum - In physics horror vacui, or plenism ("fullness", from Latin plēnum, English "plenty", cognate via Proto-Indo-European to "full"), is a theory proposed by Aristotle in response to atomism, that vacuum, (empty space), does not exist in nature because the denser surrounding material continuum would immediately fill the rarity of an incipient void. He also argued against the void in a more abstract sense, (as "separable"), for example, that by definition a void, itself, is nothing, and following Plato, nothing cannot rightly be said to exist. Furthermore, in so far as it would be featureless, it could neither be encountered by the senses, nor could its supposition lend additional explanatory power. Hero of Alexandria challenged the theory in the first century CE, but his attempts to create an artificial vacuum failed. The theory was debated in the context of 17th century fluid mechanics, by Thomas Hobbes and Robert Boyle, among others, through the early 18th century by Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz. The theory was supported and restated by Galileo Galilei in the early 17th century as resintenza del vacuo. Galilei was surprised by the fact that water could not rise above a certain level in an aspiration tube in his suction pump, leading him to conclude that there is a limit to the phenomenon. René Descartes proposed a plenic interpretation of atomism to eliminate the void, which he considered incompatible with his concept of space. The theory was rejected by later scientists, such Galileo's pupil Evangelista Torricelli and Blaise Pascal, who foresaw no reason why perfect vacuum could not be achieved in principle. The Magdeburg hemispheres used by Otto von Guericke in 1650 were seen by some as proof that the theory was not correct.
Peripat - An amulet, similar to a talisman (Arabic: transliterated: tilasim), is any object intended to bring good luck or protection to its owner. Potential amulets include gems, especially engraved gems, statues, coins, drawings, pendants, rings, plants and animals; even words in the form of a magic(k)al spell, incantation, to repel evil or bad luck. The word "amulet" comes from the Latin amuletum; the earliest extant use of the term is in Pliny's Natural History, meaning "an object that protects a person from trouble."
Circles Of The Oath - This song describes the third operation, the significance of the circles within the sphere of Tabula Smaragdina Hermetis. The Magician (I), armed and ready, stands in the centre of the sphere and strikes once upon the bell to call the attention of the Universe. I then declare the cosmos, reciting magic(k)al history by the proclamation of the circles, which I have attained through the seven grades of V.I.T.R.I.O.L. This song also has exalted association to Abraxas Connexus.
Orgia - In ancient Greek religion, an orgion (ὄργιον, more commonly in the plural orgia) was an ecstatic form of worship characteristic of some mystery cults. The orgion is in particular a cult ceremony of Dionysos, celebrated widely in Arcadia, featuring "unrestrained" masked dances by torchlight and animal sacrifice by means of random slashing that evoked the god's own rending and suffering at the hands of the Titans. The orgia that explained the role of the Titans in Dionysos's dismemberment were said to have been composed by Onomacritus. Greek art and literature, as well as some patristic texts, indicate that the orgia involved snake handling. Orgia may have been earlier manifestations of cult than the formal mysteries, as suggested by the violently ecstatic rites described in myth as celebrated by Attis in honor of Cybele and reflected in the willing self-castration of her priests the Galli in the historical period. The orgia of both Dionysian worship and the cult of Cybele aim at breaking down barriers between the celebrants and the divinity through a state of mystic exaltation:
"Dionysian orgy allowed the Bacchant to emerge from the 'ego' to be united with the god in the ecstatic exaltation of omophagia, dancing and wine. … This kind of bodily mysticism and psychosomatic liberation had only temporary effects each time — the period of the ekstasis."
Initiates of the Orphic and Bacchic orgia practiced distinctive burial customs (see Totenpass) expressive of their beliefs in an afterlife; for instance, it was forbidden for the dead to wear wool. Members of a group devoted to performing orgia are called orgeônes, whose activities were regulated by law. The cult of the Thracian goddess Bendis was organized at Athens by her orgeônes as early as the Archaic period. The participation of women in orgia, which in some manifestations was exclusive to women, sometimes led to prurient speculation and attempts to suppress the rites. In 186 BC, the Roman senate tried to ban Dionysian religion as subversive both morally and politically. Isidore of Seville says that the Latin equivalent of orgia was caerimoniae (English "ceremonies"), the arcane rites of ancient Roman religion preserved by the various colleges of priests.
Abraxas Connexus - This song is based on the marriage between the seven base metals/planets and the formula of V.I.T.R.I.O.L, as well as the Eye of the Throne. It symbolizes the fulfillment of the alchemical formula, which is a notariqon for “Visita Interiora Terrae Rectificando Invenies Occultum Lapidem,” which is Latin for “Visit the Interior of the Earth; by Rectification you will Discover the Secret Stone.” (Abyss) This acronym is the Gnostic name with seven vowels, which also gives a musical formula most puissant in evocations to the Soul of Nature.
Abraxas - Abrasax (Gk. ΑΒΡΑΣΑΞ, which is far more common in the sources than the variant form Abraxas, ΑΒΡΑΞΑΣ) was a word of mystic meaning in the system of the Gnostic Basilides, being there applied to the “Great Archon” (Gk., megas archōn), the princeps of the 365 spheres (Gk., ouranoi). In Gnostic cosmology, the 7 letters spelling its name represent each of the 7 classic planets—Sun, Moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn. The word is found in Gnostic texts such as the Holy Book of the Great Invisible Spirit, and also appears in the Greek Magic(k)al 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. There are similarities and differences between such figures in reports about Basilides' teaching, ancient Gnostic texts, the larger Greco-Roman magic(k)al traditions, and modern magic(k)al and esoteric writings. Opinions abound on Abraxas, who in recent centuries has been claimed to be both an Egyptian god and a demon. The Swiss Psychologist Carl Jung wrote a short Gnostic treatise in 1916 called The Seven Sermons to the Dead, which called Abraxas a God higher than the Christian God and Devil, that combines all opposites into one Being.
Xnobius (aka Chnoubis) - An Egyptian Gnostic solar icon, found most often on gnostic gems, and amulets for protection against poison and disease. It is a composite figure with the head of a lion and the body of a serpent, usually with seven rays emanating from the head, sometimes, with the twelve zodiacal signs. Chnoubis is an aspect of the Gnostic Demiurge, Yaldabaoth, and is associated with Abraxas. Images of Chnoubis are most often found inscribed on gnostic gems, small talismans made from semi-precious stone, that date from the first century onward.
Meithras (or Mithras) - The Mithraic Mysteries were a mystery religion practised in the Roman Empire from about the 1st to 4th centuries AD. The name of the Persian god Mithra, adapted into Greek as Mithras, was linked to a new and distinctive imagery. Romans also called the religion Mysteries of Mithras or Mysteries of the Persians; modern historians refer to it as Mithraism, or sometimes Roman Mithraism. The mysteries were popular in the Roman military. Worshippers of Mithras had a complex system of seven grades of initiation, with ritual meals. Initiates called themselves syndexioi, those "united by the handshake." They met in underground temples (called a mithraeum), which survive in large numbers. The cult appears to have had its epicentre in Rome. Numerous archeological finds, including meeting places, monuments, and artifacts, have contributed to modern knowledge about Mithraism throughout the Roman Empire. The iconic scenes of Mithras show him being born from a rock, slaughtering a bull, and sharing a banquet with the god Sol (the Sun). About 420 sites have yielded materials related to the cult. Among the items found are about 1000 inscriptions, 700 examples of the bull-killing scene (tauroctony), and about 400 other monuments.[8] It has been estimated that there would have been at least 680-690 Mithraea in Rome. No written narratives or theology from the religion survive, with limited information to be derived from the inscriptions, and only brief or passing references in Greek and Latin literature. Interpretation of the physical evidence remains problematic and contested. The Romans themselves regarded the mysteries as having Persian or Zoroastrian sources. Since the early 1970s, however, the dominant scholarship has cast this origin in doubt, and regarded the mysteries of Mithras as a distinct product of the Roman Imperial religious world. In this context, Mithraism has sometimes been viewed as a rival of early Christianity.
Interiora - Entrails or bowels.
Terrae - Nominative plural of terra, genitive singular of terra, dative singular of terra or vocative plural of terra.
Rectificando - Dative masculine singular of which, in turn, is the uture passive participle of rectificō - Participlerectificandus m. (feminine rectificanda, neuter rectificandum); first/second declension; which is to be rectified, regulated, controlled.
Invenies - Second-person singular future active indicative of inveniō which is means "I find", "I discover" or "I come upon."
Sacral - Sacred.
Lapidem - First-person singular present active subjunctive of lapidō which means "I stone" or "Throw stones at."
Skrying In The Spirit Vision - Skrying (derived from the English word descry) is a magic(k)al practice that involves seeing things psychically in a medium, usually for purposes of obtaining spiritual visions and less often for purposes of divination. The most common medium used are reflective, translucent or luminescent substances such as crystals, stones, glass, mirrors, smoke, (and mainly throughout my song) water and fire. Skrying is not supported by mainstream science as a method of predicting the future or otherwise seeing events that are not physically observable. My personal visions are astral projections that come from teachings of Enochian Magic(k) and the Golden Dawn System.
The four elements of the Watchtowers are (in this order) air, water, earth and fire. However, there is a fifth element, which is spirit. (Its symbol is represented by a spoked wheel) Together, each element represents the points of a pentacle, as spirit is always on top. If a pentacle is inverted to become a pentagram, the remaining four elements dominate spirit - creating darkness.
Air = West
Water = North
Earth = South
Fire = East
Earth: Stand with the wind because Earth is subject to the winds. When I place my feet toward the South, I hear 33 thunder clamors and see 9639 servants of the thunder. 9639 reduces down to 9+6+3+9.
I hear 33 thunder clamors, feel 456 various wind directions and watch 9636 servants march in. With that being alleged, the number 9369 reduces to 9+6+3+9, which equals 27 and 2+7=9. 33 is equivalent to 456 because 3+3=6 and 4+5+6=15 and 1+5=6.
As I enter the Third Angle of the Spirit Vision, you will skry 69,636 ever-burning lamps. The Third Angle refers to any of the four elements, (earth, water, air and fire) but there is a fifth element as well: spirit.
Formula: 69,636 = 6+9+6+3+6 = 30 and 30 = 3+0 = 3 → The Third Angle
This is what I perceive in the Spirit Vision. All five elements (earth, water, air, fire and spirit) represent the points of a pentacle, as spirit is always on top. If the pentacle is inverted to become a pentagram, the remaining four elements dominate spirit, creating darkness and scenarios of black magic(k) in an underworldly environment.
In conclusion, Skrying in the Spirit Vision is a song about what I observe, in astral projection, when banishing the Pentacle and invoking the Pentagram.
Metatron (Hebrew מטטרון) or Mattatron (a differentiation of Metatron) - The name of an archangel in Judaism - according to Jewish medieval apocrypha, he is Enoch, ancestor of Noah, transformed into an angel. There are no references to him in the Jewish Tanakh or Christian Scriptures (New and Old Testament). Although he is mentioned in a few brief passages in the Talmud, Metatron appears primarily in medieval Jewish mystical texts and other post-scriptural esoteric and occult sources. In Rabbinic tradition, he is the highest of the angels and serves as the celestial scribe
Ontologically, It Became Time & Space - This song is an argument concerning the relationship between metaphysical nihilism and the ‘physical’ origin of one abstract occult concept. In other words, how did time and space inaugurate? Ontology. It is the philosophical study of the nature of being, existence or reality as such, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations. Traditionally listed as a part of the major branch of philosophy known as metaphysics, ontology deals with questions concerning what entities (or planets) exist or can be said to exist, and how such entities can be grouped, related within a hierarchy, and subdivided according to similarities and differences.
Three arguments are crucial with this theory:
First:
"An actual infinite cannot exist."
"An infinite temporal regress of events is an actual infinite."
”An infinite temporal regress of events cannot exist."
Second:
(an argument from the impossibility of completing an actual infinite by successive addition)
"An actual infinite cannot be completed by successive addition."
"The temporal series of past events has been completed by successive addition."
"The temporal series of past events cannot be an actual infinite."
Third:
Did the following series of events actually happen to create time and space?
Chaos > Abyss > Earth > Desire > Moon < Night < Sun < Day < Air < Water < Space < Time
Therefore, this leads to “the Sun behind the Sun,” (the vast star Sirius = Sothis) which opened the zodiacal year of 365 days splitting the skies into twelve months. My hypothesis is it took approximately 26,000 years to create time and space, but how? Who? Why?
Ontology (from onto-, from the Greek ὤν, ὄντος "being; that which is", present participle of the verb εἰμί "be", and -λογία, -logia: science, study, theory) - The philosophical study of the nature of being, existence, or reality, as well as the basic categories of being and their relations. Traditionally listed as a part of the major branch of philosophy known as metaphysics, ontology deals with questions concerning what entities exist or can be said to exist, and how such entities can be grouped, related within a hierarchy, and subdivided according to similarities and differences.
A Song For EA
Ea (Enki) is the god of fresh water, wisdom and incantations and lived in the Abzu. (Apsu) He is the assistant of mankind who sent the Seven Sages to teach the arts and skills of civilization to men. This story concentrates on two Tablets in the ancient legend of Sumerian/Mesopotamian mythology. The first, called the Third Tablet, represents Ea’s celestial journey and extraction of gold from the waters of the Abzu. However, his excursion was unexpectedly interrupted by the second - Sixteenth Tablet. Ea encounters the seven evil spirits (portals) of King Anu, as well as Imhullu. (An atrocious current of air, tempest and the wind of four and seven - the worst of all).
Miscellaneous Tracks
The Gold Torques Of Uláid
Dragoons - A heavily armed cavalryman in Celtic Mythology.
Red Knight - A warrior who was the guardian of Ulster during the days of Conchobar Mac Nessa (King Of Ulster). Cúchulainn was the most accepted of all Red Knights in Celtic mythology.
Take-Flight - he act of a winged species preparing to fly.
Red Branch Cycle - Known as the Ulster Cycle as well. This is the great heroic cycle of Irish mythology. As far back as the Irish tradition goes, there is an enormous institute of “knighthood” within the Red Branch Cycle.
Ross The Red - Founder of the Red Branch Cycle, who wed Maga, daughter of the god Aonghus Óg. Ross The Red designed their banner, which had a yellow lion on a green field of silk.
Ulaidh - Ulster.
High King - In Irish Gaelic language, the High King was also known as the Ard Ri or Ard Righ. According to ancient, bardic king lists, these were the first and most powerful kings in Ireland until the year 1 A.D. The Anglo-Saxons referred to them as “overlords.”