A In Literature: • "The magician spoke the word 'abecedarian' and pulled the rabbit out of his hat." -- GotApex.com (2004) Ablanathanalba Sisopetron Origins: Ablanathanalba sisopetron is a "widespread magical charm"16 appearing in a group of Cypriot magical curses. The first word, Ablanathanalba, "is usually conceded to be derived from the Hebrew (Aramaic), meaning 'Thou art our father.'"17 The second word presumably means "rock-shaker"18 (see open sesame, perhaps the most famous rock-shaker). Facts: "The magic word 'Ablanathanalba,' which reads in Greek the same backward as forward, also occurs in the Abraxas-stones as well as in the magic papyri."19 (See Abraxas.) In an ancient Egyptian invocation, Ablanathanalba is identified as a "'griffin of the shrine of the god which stands today.' (A griffin is a mythical animal with the body and mane of a lion, the head and face of an eagle, two front lion-legs with talons, and the wings of an eagle.)" 0 Variations and Incantations: • Iao barbathiaoth ablanathanalba "Taking up the rhythm from the twig and the previous words of power, Garric and the old woman cried together, 'Iao barbathiaoth ablanathanalba!'" -- David Drake, Lord of the Isles (1997) Aborizah Meanings: • "A bargain is a bargain (and you must accept the outcome)" -- David Tufte, "Lost Tribe Found?" (2004) • Magic word, "as in an old folktale, like 'shazam' or 'abracadabra'" -- Hillel Halkin, Across the Sabbath River (2002) • O God the creator -- Hillel Halkin, Across the Sabbath River (2002) 16 Kieren Barry, The Greek Qabalah: Alphabetical Mysticism and Numerology in the Ancient World (1999) 17 Ludwig Blau, "Abraxas," JewishEncyclopedia.com (2002) 18 E.S. Shaffer, Comparative Criticism, Volume 9 (1987) 19 Ludwig Blau, "Abraxas," JewishEncyclopedia.com (2002) 20 Eleanor L. Harris, Ancient Egyptian Divination and Magic (1998)