. An illustrated dictionary of words used in art and archaeology. Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c, with their derivations . tones orgems, because they constituted the symbols ofthe gnostic sect of the Basilidians. Certainpeoples looked upon them as magic amuletsagainst particular maladies and demoniacalinfluences. The impressions on these stones arevery varied ; cabalistic figures, the signs A and Ci,and the word lAfl, whic
. An illustrated dictionary of words used in art and archaeology. Explaining terms frequently used in works on architecture, arms, bronzes, Christian art, colour, costume, decoration, devices, emblems, heraldry, lace, personal ornaments, pottery, painting, sculpture, &c, with their derivations . tones orgems, because they constituted the symbols ofthe gnostic sect of the Basilidians. Certainpeoples looked upon them as magic amuletsagainst particular maladies and demoniacalinfluences. The impressions on these stones arevery varied ; cabalistic figures, the signs A and Ci,and the word lAfl, which designates the SupremeBeing. Numerous explanations have beensought for this term abraxas ; some philologistsassert that it comes from the Persian [or Pehlvi],and that it signifies Mithra ; otiiers derive it fromthe Hebrew, or the Coptic, while others againrecognize in it only a numerical sign, the lettersof which, added together, would give the number 365, or the number of days that make up theyear, and in this case abraxas would symbolizetlie animal revolution of the sun. A figureoften found upon Abraxas stones is that of aserpent with a radiated lions head (Chnouphis),which rears itself amid seven stars. The reverseof these stones often bears the inscription TilXNOT*I, To Chnouphis.^. Fig. 3. A Lictor with the fasces, wearing the abolla. Absidiole. Diminutive of apse, and thus usedto denote a small apse terminating a lateral nave,while tlie a]ise closes the central or chief nave.(See Absis.) Absis or Apse, R. (cul/ls, a bow or \ault). Anyenclosure of semicircular form terminating aroom, hall, &c. There was an absis in the ART AND ARCIL-EOLOGV Biuiliia (q. v.), or court of justice, nnd it was inthe semicircular recess thus formed tliat thejudges seats were placed. Many temples alsohad an absis attacheel to them, and there is onein particular of this description well known to allarchreologists. This is the absis of the templeof Venus at Rome, which was built by theemperor arc
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