The Basilidian (q.v.,) sect Gnostics, of the second century, claimed Abraxas as the supreme god, and said that Jesus Christ was only a phantom sent to earth by him. They believed that his name contained great mysteries, as it was composed of these Greek letters which form the number 363, which is also number of days in a year. Abraxas, they thought, under his command 365 gods, to whom they attrib 365 virtues, one for each day.
The older Mythology placed him among the number of Egyptian gods, demonologists have described him a - a demon, with head of a king and with serpents forming his feet. Represented on ancient amulets, with a whip in his hand. It is from his name that the mystic word, Abracad (q.v.) is taken.
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