Post by bluefedish on Jan 10, 2008 12:54:56 GMT -5
A ceremonial black-handled knife, on of several magickal tools used in Witchcraft. Other forms of modern witchcraft have since adopted the term for various ritual knives. A black-handled knife called an athame appears in certain versions of the Key of Solomon, a grimoire originating in the Middle Ages.
The athame is first mentioned in the writings of Gerald Gardner in the 1950s, who claimed to have been initiated into a surviving tradition of witchcraft called Wicca. The athame was their most important ritual tool, which had many uses, but was not to be used for actual physical cutting.
There has been speculation that Gardner's interest and expertise in antique swords and knives, and in particular the magickal kris knives of Malaysia and Indonesia, may have contributed to the tool's central importance in modern Witchcraft.
Appearance
An athame can take many forms. It frequently has a double-edged blade with a sharp point, and a handle which is often black. The handle may be inscribed with particular symbols dictated by the tradition.
In "eclectic" forms of witchcraft the handle decorations range from astrological glyphs to runes, the symbols being chosen by the owner. Many fantasy-themed athames are also available from medieval and neopagan supply shops.
Uses
The athame's primary use is for ritual and magickal puposes only, to direct energy; if things such as herbs or cords need to be cut, another knife called a boline - a white-handled knife - is used. An exception is the "kitchen witchcraft" philosophy, which actively encourages the use of magickal tools for mundane purposes to increase the witch's familiarity with them.
An athame may be employed in the demarcation of the Magick Circle rite.
As a masculine principle, it's often used in combination with the chalice, as feminine principle, evoking the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. This is a symbol of the Great Rite in Wiccan rituals. Some modern witchcraft traditions may prefer not to use iron blades, instead preferring alternatives such as copper, bronze or wood. This is most common amongst traditions that have a particular fondness of the Sidhe, to whom iron is supposedly harmful.
Etymology
There is no proven etymology for this word, which does not appear in any European language. A ritual knife from the Key of Solomon (not however the main 'black-handled knife') is named in various manuscripts artavo, artavus, arthana, artanus, arthany or arthame. Idries Shah, who was personal secretary and close friend of Gerald Gardner, provides an etymology from an alleged Arabic al-dhammé "blood-letter", which was supposed to be the ritual knife of a medieval magical cult of Morocco and Andalusia. This etymology is controversial, however. It appears in his book The Sufis as a quote from A History of Secret Societies by Arkon Daraul (a probable pseudonym of Shah). Robert Graves (an acquaintance of Shah) suggests an Arabic derivation from al thame (or adh-dhame), which he translates as "the arrow".
A Latin manuscript version of the Key of Solomon has a drawing that looks like a sickle, labelled Artavo. It is possible that Gardner's use of 'athame' come from reading from modern French versions of the same text which read "arthane" or "arthame".
Historical Parallels
* The Malay kris is a ritual knife regarded as having magickal powers, and Gerald Gardner was a recognised authority on these knives prior to his involvment in Wicca.
* The Roman secespita was a ritual knife, however, it was used for sacrifice.
Selected Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athame
wiccainfoandspells.blogspot.com
The athame is first mentioned in the writings of Gerald Gardner in the 1950s, who claimed to have been initiated into a surviving tradition of witchcraft called Wicca. The athame was their most important ritual tool, which had many uses, but was not to be used for actual physical cutting.
There has been speculation that Gardner's interest and expertise in antique swords and knives, and in particular the magickal kris knives of Malaysia and Indonesia, may have contributed to the tool's central importance in modern Witchcraft.
Appearance
An athame can take many forms. It frequently has a double-edged blade with a sharp point, and a handle which is often black. The handle may be inscribed with particular symbols dictated by the tradition.
In "eclectic" forms of witchcraft the handle decorations range from astrological glyphs to runes, the symbols being chosen by the owner. Many fantasy-themed athames are also available from medieval and neopagan supply shops.
Uses
The athame's primary use is for ritual and magickal puposes only, to direct energy; if things such as herbs or cords need to be cut, another knife called a boline - a white-handled knife - is used. An exception is the "kitchen witchcraft" philosophy, which actively encourages the use of magickal tools for mundane purposes to increase the witch's familiarity with them.
An athame may be employed in the demarcation of the Magick Circle rite.
As a masculine principle, it's often used in combination with the chalice, as feminine principle, evoking the act of procreation, as a symbol of universal creativity. This is a symbol of the Great Rite in Wiccan rituals. Some modern witchcraft traditions may prefer not to use iron blades, instead preferring alternatives such as copper, bronze or wood. This is most common amongst traditions that have a particular fondness of the Sidhe, to whom iron is supposedly harmful.
Etymology
There is no proven etymology for this word, which does not appear in any European language. A ritual knife from the Key of Solomon (not however the main 'black-handled knife') is named in various manuscripts artavo, artavus, arthana, artanus, arthany or arthame. Idries Shah, who was personal secretary and close friend of Gerald Gardner, provides an etymology from an alleged Arabic al-dhammé "blood-letter", which was supposed to be the ritual knife of a medieval magical cult of Morocco and Andalusia. This etymology is controversial, however. It appears in his book The Sufis as a quote from A History of Secret Societies by Arkon Daraul (a probable pseudonym of Shah). Robert Graves (an acquaintance of Shah) suggests an Arabic derivation from al thame (or adh-dhame), which he translates as "the arrow".
A Latin manuscript version of the Key of Solomon has a drawing that looks like a sickle, labelled Artavo. It is possible that Gardner's use of 'athame' come from reading from modern French versions of the same text which read "arthane" or "arthame".
Historical Parallels
* The Malay kris is a ritual knife regarded as having magickal powers, and Gerald Gardner was a recognised authority on these knives prior to his involvment in Wicca.
* The Roman secespita was a ritual knife, however, it was used for sacrifice.
Selected Sources:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Athame
wiccainfoandspells.blogspot.com
