[HPforGrownups] Avada Kevadra

[Katherine Coble]

No: HPFGUIDX 130589


On Jun 12, 2005, at 2:24 PM, monika_zaboklicka wrote:

> OK, my question is: why are unforgivable curses unforgivable?
>  3. Avada Kevadra - the only one that does not seem to be rooted in
>  Latin, therefore I suppose it was not invented in Europe. But that's
>  beside the point. AK always seemed to me to be an uncomfortable
>  curse. It's too long:
>


I've always thought that of all the spells in HP, this was the one that  
most harkens unto "real" magick--in that it is related to that  
practiced from Kaballah and gematria.

 From Worldwidewords.org: [1]

abrasadabra (the change from s to c seems to have been through a  
confused transliteration of the Greek). It originated as a secret and  
mystical word with a Gnostic sect in Alexandria called the Basilidians  
(named after their founder Basilides of Egypt). It was probably based  
on Abrasax, the name of their supreme deity (Abraxas in Latin sources),  
but is sometimes said to have been constructed from the initial letters  
of three Hebrew Words: Ab, the father, Ben, the son, and Acadsch, the  
holy spirit. It was used as a charm, written in the shape of a triangle  
on a piece of parchment worn round the neck, and was believed to have  
the power to cure toothaches, malaria and other scourges. And Abraxas  
itself was said to have magical powers of its own, as a word that  
represented the number of days in the year, 365. This was derived by  
adding up the numerical values of its seven Greek letters by a process  
called gematria. For this reason, it was often engraved on amulets and  
precious stones.


-----

Further discussion from Global Yeshiva [2]:

“Abracadabra” and defined it as the Hebrew words “abra” = (I will  
create) and “k’dabra” = (as, like spoken).


The ancient Hebrews, and many Jews to this day believe it is a sin to  
speak the name of God.  The sacred Name, and the powerful magick it  
bespeaks has been the topic of many religions throughout the world, and  
many novels as well (Umberto Eco's _Foucault's Pendulum_, for example.)

I've always believed that Avada Kevadra is a permutation of the  
original Hebrew.  Instead of "I will Create As Spoken" (Abra K'Dabra),  
I believe it is "I Will Destroy as Spoken" .

My Hebrew is very very rusty--I've left off studying it for 8 years  
now, and cannot remember.   It would be of great help to me if there  
are any Hebrew speakers on either list who can further enlighten.

Katherine


[1] http://www.worldwidewords.org/qa/qa-abr1.htm

[2]  
http://globalyeshiva.com/eve/ubb.x/a/tpc/f/8901015011/m/7981059901/r/ 
4481032221

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