ADAMCOS

Adamcos is the name of Catweazle's athame. An athame (also called yag-dirk or seax) is a so-called witch's ceremonial knife with a double-edged blade. It serves to direct and bundle magic power and sometimes also to draw the magic circle, but never to cut with. Catweazle also uses Adamcos to hypnotise and to show the way. Consecrational rituals, inscriptions and symbols on the knife are said to further reinforce the magic powers of the athame and its wearers. And it is frequently worn like an amulet on a necklace. Catweazle also wears Adamcos, which is sacred to the goddess Hecate, with a chain around his neck. To consecrate is a magic rite to transfer forces to things.

In the German book Catweazle's witch knife is not called Adamcos but Adamos. I assume that Richard Carpenter derived the name from the word Adamas. Adamas (or Adamant) is a synonym for a very solid and robust material, crystal or metal. In the past Adamas was the name for steel, later it was used for the diamond. The Greek word adamas means invincible and in Greek mythology Kronos owns a sickle made of Adamant. Unlike iron this material could also hurt gods.

ABRAXAS

At the beginning of the episode The Black Wheels Catweazle recites a magic spell including the name Abraxas. Abraxas (also known as Abrasax or Abracax) is a gnostic deity and is used as a sign of victory and good luck. His name is also defined as a magic word. The well-known Abracadabrais said to have originated from the name. In gnosis (an esoteric religious movement) Abraxas is the lord of the world.

Many scientists believe that this name derives from the Hebrew word Habberakah, meaning the blessing. According to the gnostic numerical system* (see below) the numerical value of the Greek letters of Abraxas is 365 – the number of days in a solar year. This is also the numerical value of Meithras (the Greek form of the name Mithras) – the Persian god of light beloved of the Romans and later also the Celts. It is believed that Abraxas and Mithras are the same god. On his amulets Abraxas, who in this system represented the 365 aeons (ages) and was deemed to be the almighty, is depicted with the head of a cock or a lion, the body of a human and snake-like legs, which at their tips give way to scorpions. In his left hand he holds a whip or a club, and in his right hand a round or oval shield. He was invoked with all the names of the Hebrew god Jehova, i.e. Jah, Adonay and Sabaoth.
(a = 1, b = 2, r = 100, x = 60, s = 200)

BARAKIEL

Barakiel (also known as Barchiel, Barachiel, Barbiel, Barkiel or Baraquel) is one of the seven archangels and angel of the month of February. He rules over the planets Jupiter and the signs of the zodiac Scorpio and Pisces. Together with the angels Uriel and Rubiel, he is said to bring good luck to all games of chance. He is the lord of lighting, and is also called God's Lightning or Prince of Lightning. No wonder that in the episode Castle Saburac Catweazle thinks Sam Woodyard is Barakiel when he sees him working with a welding torch.

Curse

The curse is a form of harmful magic. The aim, using formulaic words, is to bring misfortune upon another person or upon the person in question. Books of spells contain exact descriptions of the formulas and the rituals to accompany them. Cursing someone means invoking the revenge of a great power against which the cursed person has little protection. A curse is spoken magic; if you do not believe in magic a curse becomes blasphemous or meaningless. Rapkyn's curse in the episode The Curse of Rapkyn is as follows: Hexwood, I blight thee, Stones hold my power. One in the water, One in the tower.

CROSSED FINGERS

Crossing your fingers is the simplest way of forming the sign of the cross. It is especially effective as magic against the devil. A cross is a complete unity: it represents the four points of the compass and the four elements. If two lines cross you can hold on to a wish (or a lie) at the point where they meet. A wish remains at the point of intersection until it has been fulfilled, and a lie remains on that spot, is kept away by the evil spirits and does not create any difficulties.

In early times two people would cross their index fingers, whereby the first person made a wish and the second hoped the wish would be realised. This was later simplified in that just one person would cross their fingers. Thus in England and America crossed fingers still convey the meaning of hoping for a positive outcome, whilst in Germany you cross your fingers behind your back when you are lying and wish to avoid bad consequences or when you do not intend to keep a promise.

CERNUNNOS

Cernunnos (also called Cerunnos or Hu Gadam) is one of the oldest Celtic gods (origin approx. 2nd century BC). His name means the horned one. He was worshipped in both Britain and France. He is frequently depicted sitting cross-legged and wearing a sleeveless tunic and a pearl necklace. He bears the ears and antlers of a stag and is deemed to be the god of the animals. Frequently depicted with animals such as the snake and the stag, Cernunnos is sometimes shown feeding them. This indicates that he is a god of plenty and fertility. Cernunnos can change his manifestation and adopt the form of a snake, wolf or stag.

In the episode The Curse of Rapkyn he is admittedly depicted in a tunic and sitting cross-legged, but his head has two faces. Mr Gladstone also mentions that the two faces make him similar to the god Janus. It can thus be assumed that in the series he is probably a kind of mixture between Cernunnos and the Roman god Janus.

Diving Rod

A divining rod is a fork-shaped branch of willow, alder, hazel bush, buckthorn, lime, birch etc. – but usually made of willow or hazelnut wood. The use of such forked branches for the purposes of magic is very old. Cicero mentions in his works a magic wand in which one can easily recognise the divining rod. But the first more detailed information on this comes to us through the Benedictine monk Basilius Valentinus, c. 1490, who cites the divining rod as Caduceum, Herold's rod, divine rod, Jacob's rod, soothsaying rod, baguette etc. Hermes' rod, which the winged god of merchants holds in his hands, also merely symbolises a divining rod.

It was supposed to serve to show the treasures concealed in the earth. It was later used by miners to find ore and veins of coal and water. The commonest method of use is for the diviner, i.e. the person using the divining rod, to hold the rod in front of him by the two short fork-shaped branches so that the rod sticks out vertically in front of his body. The basis of use of the divining rod is the fact that there are people in whose hand such a rod actually dips when over concealed pieces of metal, ore etc.

This capability of recognising such concealed objects of course lies not in the rod but in the sensitivity of the person in question, who feels the proximity of the metal, ore, water etc. and through involuntary and unconscious movements in the hands holding the rod makes it dip … and as we know from Catweazle you have to hold it the other way round to find wogle-stones.

Demons

Demon (Greek daimōn = deity) is the original designation for a god – later a being halfway between gods and humans – who (as was believed) can have a good or evil influence on human fate and cosmic processes. The Greek philosophers deemed it to be the divine aspect or the divine voice in a human being (daimōnion).

Demons are characterised by their unpredictable, moody nature, and often seize humans' spiritual powers. The bible describes them exclusively as evil spirits – fallen angels who represent a force against the power of God. Demons are often crucial figures in later sagas, and appear as superhuman beings.

Evil Eye

According to both popular belief and ancient magical traditions the eye represents more than just a visual organ. It is held to be the window to the soul, from which beneficent or destructive forces of the soul can emanate. The evil eyes of evil beings are already physiognomically recognisable: by a particularly fixed and piercing gaze and usually by a red, bloodshot colouring. This visibly evil eye was ascribed not only to man-eating giants, dreadful demons, hunchbacked dwarfs or witches, but also to people with evil intentions. Envious people in particular, for whom the good fortune and the glory of others is an abomination, are said to possess the evil eye. The evil eye creates more than just a moment of unconcealed malice – it was feared that those affected could be permanently damaged by it. For this reason it was important to protect yourself against this evil eye using as many repellents as possible.

Above all eye amulets and eye talismans were deemed to be effective counter-magic. The eye symbol of God was applied to buildings and building components as a characteristic sign of protection against evil deeds. There are also a number of hand signs that are alleged to ward off the evil eye. But the person in question must not notice these hand gestures, so you have to hide your hand in your pocket whilst making them. Spitting three times can also protect against the evil eye.

Where does this term occur in Catweazle? In the episode The Wogle Stone, when the construction workers suspect that Catweazle has the evil eye. But this is of course not the case ... Not our dear old Catweazle!

Familiar Spirit

Catweazle's familiar spirit is a small toad called Touchwood. A familiar spirit of a witch or magician is also called a spiritus familiaris or just a familiar. Witches are said to have possessed such assistants, who lent them a helping hand with their magic deeds. It was also believed that these beings were horned and winged imps who could also adopt the form of apparently ordinary animals. It was often insinuated of women accused of witchcraft that their pet (often a cat) was their familiar and a disguised imp up to no good. The following animals were frequently held to be familiars: cat, dog, toad, owl, blackbird, spider, bat, weasel, ferret, mouse, rat, snake, grasshopper… etc.

Gobllin

Goblin is a collective term for evil spirits inclined to pranks who get up to mischief in England. The appearance of goblins is said to be deformed and dwarf- or imp-like. There used originally to be friendly and helpful hobgoblins as a counterpart to the damage-causing goblins. Catweazle slightly misunderstands the name of the sculptor in the episode The Enchanted King. Cedric says to Catweazle: …Mr Gobbling. and Catweazle replies: No, not a goblin….

Hecate

Catweazle's witch knife Adamcos is sacred to the goddess Hecate. But who is Hecate? The Greek word Hecate means The one acting from afar, and also derives from the Greek word hekatonmeaning hundred – a hundred because Hecate brings here worshippers a hundredfold harvest. In the daytime she devotes herself to agriculture and at night to witchcraft. Hecate was originally a moon goddess, whose cult came to Greece from Asia Minor. The Ancient Greeks held the goddess Hecate to be the mistress of magic, ghosts and witchcraft. She was primarily a goddess of women, thus above all female magicians invoked her in their nocturnal pursuits.

Hecates' affinity with crossroads, which have been deemed eerie places from time immemorial, is manifested in that she is often depicted with three faces or three figures, to give her the optimum overview of triple forks. She sometimes also appears as a she-wolf or mare. Garlic is brought to her as an offering, and rue plays an important role when conjuring up Hecate. In magic, rue also serves as defence against evil spirits.

Incantations

An incantation (or magic spell) can either be written or spoken. Its power lies in the form of the words used – they can come from the mother tongue of the magician – and in the way they are emphasised. I have drawn up a list of Catweazle's best-known magic spells here. I have not been able to find a clear meaning for all of them. Here I have also explained the two magic spells Hocus-pocus and Abracadabra. In the series they are only mentioned peripherally, but the story of their origin is nevertheless very interesting.

"Salmay, Dalmay, Adonay."

This is probably Catweazle's best-known magic spell. (In the german version it is: Salmai Dalmai Adomai.)

Meaning: The word Adonay (Adonai) is of Hebrew origin and means my Lord. The name of God JHWH (Tetragrammaton) and its short form JH are read by Jews as Adonay. Unfortunately I do not know the meaning of the words Salmay and Dalmay.

"Sator arepo tenet opera rotas."

Meaning: This magic spell is the so-called Sator-Arepo formula, and is described above in the glossary. Literally translated it approximately means: 'The sower Arepo holds the wheels with difficulty.

"Gab, gaba, agaba."

Catweazle often recites this spell whilst blowing on his magic ring.
Meaning: All I have been able to find out is that there is a magic spell by means of which spirits are driven out. Part of this spell is: '... Beroald, Balbin, Gab, Gabor, Agaba …' (from 'The book of black magic and ceremonial magic'). It is questionable whether Catweazles's magic spell has anything to do with this.

"Pax, Sax, Sarax."

Catweazle recites this spell in the episode Duck Halt when he asks the runes to predict the future.
Meaning: In the 60s there was a party game or board game called Ka-Bala. It was supposed to predict the future. Whilst letting a ball roll in a circle, as in roulette, the player

When in the episode The Black Wheels Catweazle crushes the records he recites this spell.
Meaning: These words can be found in an old English song ('Everyman's Book of English Country Songs' von Roy Palmer, London 1979). The text of this song was written by Jesse Baggaley in 1930. 'Yan, tan, tethera, tethera, pethera, pimp…' is an old method of counting sheep.

"Zazel Hasmasel Barmasel Schedbarschemoth"

With these words Catweazle hypnotised Theda in the episode Castle Saburac.
Meaning: The words can be found in the book 'The Magus' by Francis Barrett. It is a listing of the names of various demons or spirits. 'Zazel' is one of the spirits of the planet Saturn, 'Hasmasel' belongs to Jupiter, 'Schedbarschemoth' to the moon…

"Hokuspokus"

Meaning: Hocus-pocus may have begun with an ancient Nordic magician called Ochus Bochus.
It may also be a shorter version of hocus pocus fidibus, a widespread blasphemous parody of part of the Catholic mass hoc est corpus filii (this is the body of the son). The expression unquestionably holds an important place in the history of the art of magic. Thomas Ady's 'A candle in the Dark: or, A Treatise Concerning the Nature of Witches & Witchcraft' (1656) contains an early description of hocus-pocus: I will tell of a man who lived in the time of King John, who boasted he was 'the most remarkable hocus-pocus of the royal majesties', and the people named him thus, for in each of the pieces he performed he said: Hocus pocus, tonus talontus, vade celeriter jubeo, a compilation of dark words, in order to blind the eyes of observers and allow his trick to pass all the more smoothly without detection. It is also probable that the word hocus-pocus derives from a pseudo-Latin 16th-century magic formula of travelling students: Hax, pax, max, deus adimax. In the early 17th century Magi, magicians and swindlers traversed the land with hocus-pocus or variants on it and plied their trade. Colloquially, hocus-pocus now simply means twaddle, nonsense or charlatanism.

"Abracadabra"

Meaning: This word, which we have all used dozens of times in fun, was taken very seriously in the Middle Ages. People believed that the word alone was an agent against fever. The sick wore a parchment amulet round their neck on which the word was written as a reverse pyramid. In many parts of the world people thought that somebody with fever merely had to write the word down several times, leaving out one letter more each time – as in the pyramid depicted. Like the letters, so also would the fever also disappear. The magic spell was also held to be an aid against toothache and infections. The belief in this magic word is probably centuries older than our calendar. It is thought that the word 'abracadabra' may originate from the name of God 'Abraxas'. In the mystical secret teaching of the cabbalists a form of abracadabra was used as a spell against evil spirits: A meant Father, Ben meant Son and Ruach Acadach meant Holy Spirit. In ancient times there was a widespread conviction that the very name of a supernatural being had magic powers. People called out such a name for protection – as we still do today – and thought it helped to know the true name of the correct deity. The belief that knowing someone's name would give you power over the bearer of that name can be found in German fairy tales – e.g. in Rumpelstiltskin: Oh, what a good thing nobody knows my name is Rumpelstiltskin!, and then the powerlessness when the name can be mentioned. Abracadabra also became a fixed expression in the art of magic when it became more widely used and the Magi began using fantastic, incomprehensible words instead of the names of deities and gods. The more mysterious the words, thought the Magi, the greater the magical powers (and the greater the reputation of the magician with the amazed public).

Janus

The twin-headed Janus is one of the oldest Roman deities. He is the god of doors and gates and of beginnings, looking outwards and inwards, monitoring those coming and going. He is the general protector of all beginnings and transitions, lent his name to the month of January and was the first god cited in religious ceremonies. Janus was sacred to soldiers, because an army had to pass through the city gates when going into battle. He is also said to have been the inventor of money. Early Roman coins bore his image. Later on, the head of Janus also became a symbol of ambiguity or the evil and the good sides of one and the same thing.

Lucifer

...Spells, charms, curses. Tis all here Touchwood! Prayers toTanit, prayers to Lucifer., Catweazle says about Rapkyn's book in the episode The Curse of Rapkyn. In the episode The Witching Hour, when Harold strikes a match, Catweazle says: Oh Lucifer, Oh Morning Star! Lucifer is the Satan of the Bible and of Christian literature. The name roughly means bringer of light or radiant morning star. The planet Venus used to be called Lucifer. The change in meaning of the name is because of a story from the Old Testament, according to which the morning star rebelled against God and wanted to erect its throne above God's stars. Lucifer is cast out from the sky and tumbles into hell, where he then rules as a prince. According to Christian mythology, diamonds arose when Lucifer was cast out of the sky and his light splintered into millions of shining fragments, which stand for the evil inherent in material possessions. The twin-headed Janus is one of the oldest Roman deities. He is the god of doors and gates and of beginnings, looking outwards and inwards, monitoring those coming and going. He is the general protector of all beginnings and transitions, lent his name to the month of January and was the first god cited in religious ceremonies. Janus was sacred to soldiers, because an army had to pass through the city gates when going into battle. He is also said to have been the inventor of money. Early Roman coins bore his image. Later on, the head of Janus also became a symbol of ambiguity or the evil and the good sides of one and the same thing.

Mandrake

The mandrake root (also known as May apple) from the mandragora plant is shaped like a human and contains poisonous hallucinogens. It was held by the heathens to be holy, embodying the great mother. In Egyptian and Hebrew culture it symbolised fertility and was consumed to stimulate conception; it was also the symbol of the Hebrew line of the Reuben. In Arabia it was known as Devil's Candle, because it allegedly shone in the dark. As the emblem of Circe, the Greek magician, the power of enchantment was ascribed to it and it was used for magic potions. In the Middle Ages mandrake root was held to be a healing agent. It was believed that its roots grew under the gallows of murderers, nourished by what dripped down from the body. It was said that if the roots were torn from the ground they would issue penetrating cries, bringing death to those that heard them. Nevertheless they were also associated with positive attributes such as health and wellbein. Catweazle uses a mandrake root for the transformation magic in the episode The Demi Devil.

Magic Thumb-ring

Why does Catweazle always blow on his ring? As he usually does it three times I assume that this has its origin in the superstition of spitting three times, whereby it was believed that spitting loudly three times protected you against harm and bad luck. Hence the German expression Toi, toi, toi, a sort of good-luck formula. It was also believed that if you spat over your left shoulder you would be spitting in the devil's face and thus fighting off all evil – it was believed that the evil spirits lived to the left and the good ones to the right. So when Catweazle blows three times on his ring this is probably a kind of protective magic. Admittedly he does not spit on his ring, but the blowing has the same meaning. The use of rings as amulets is very old. The fact is that all rings used to be worn for protective purposes. Primitive peoples probably associate the ring with the sphere of the sun, and thus ascribe to it the strength and power of the sun

Magic Face

In many parts of the world being photographed is held to be portentous – even fatal. It is assumed that the soul of a human lies in his image. If you take a photo and thus create a duplicate of this image this allows the devil to take possession of the soul. It is said to being bad luck to engaged couples if they are photographed together – why should you challenge the evil spirits? It is said to bring especially bad luck being photographed with a cat, because the cat might harbour the spirit of a witch. It was also believed that if you wanted to put a curse on someone you had to turn their image towards the wall or turn it upside down

Nebiros

Nebiros is probably better known by the name of Cerberus. He is also called Kerberos, Zerberus, demon of the pit, Naberus or Naberius. Nebiros is one of the demons and is a prince of the infernal kingdom. He is strong and mighty, and if he is not wearing his three dog heads he appears in the guise of a rough-voiced raven. He nevertheless displays eloquence and kindness, and teaches the fine arts. You can see that this is no longer the Cerberus of the ancients – the frightening dog and incorruptible gatekeeper of the underworld who because of the many snakes with which his three manes were decorated was also called the beast with a hundred heads, centiceps bellua. It used to be said that he had fifty dog's heads, but by general agreement he is only conceded to have three. His teeth were black and sharp, and his bite caused immediate death. It is believed that the saga of Cerberus goes back to the Egyptians, who had mastiffs guard their graves

Owls

Because of their connection with the night, owls are often deemed to be birds of ill omen whose cry heralds death and misfortune. For the Celts owls were holy, but they were also held to be night witches connected with corpses. In Africa they were deemed to be messengers of magicians, and in the Middle Ages in Europe it was believed that witches could turn themselves into owls. But as they can see in the dark and are considered serious and pensive they are also a symbol of wisdom penetrating the darkness of ignorance, and thus became an attribute of Athena, the Greek goddess of the wisdom and practical skills. In Catweazle an owl is deemed to be an ill omen, as it heralds the arrival of the Normans.

Philosopher's Stone

In the episode The Walking Trees Catweazle discovers a hand grenade and believes it to be the legendary Philosopher's Stone. In reality the Philosopher's Stone (lapis philosophorum) is a substance allegedly produced by means of alchemy, using lengthy processes that are said to convert base metals into precious metals, and to have a rejuvenating and healing effect. At that time people hoped to be able to produce gold by this means. Separation and reunification of opposing principles – above all of the female and male principles – played an important role in the production processes. The depiction (left) comes from Mutus Liber – the Mute Book from the 12th century. It shows the 'philosopher's stone' in the athanor (alchemist's furnace); Mercury (above), standing between two angels, was held to be its personification. The depiction attempts to show that physical alchemistic operations mirror a spiritual reality – an idea put forward by the French alchemist Pierre-Jean Fabre using the following words: Alchemy is not just the art or science of the transformation of metals; it is a true and powerful science that teaches how to get to the essence of things – in divine language the spirit of life.

Pentacle

Since the pentacle (also known as witch's foot, druid's foot, witch's cross, star of Bethlehem, star of the three holy kings or the five-pointed star), like the circle, has neither a beginning nor an end, it is a symbol of perfection and completeness. Its points symbolise the four elements and spirituality. Because of this double meaning the symbol was attributed with the power of exorcising evil spirits – thus it became the most important magic aid. Of all the magic symbols, the pentagram is the most revered. It shows a star, and thus the inner mystic energy. It is the sign of the earthly element in Tarot. In earlier times the pentagram stood for life and health. The gypsies called it the star of wisdom, and they revealed it by cutting obliquely through an apple, the core representing the shape of a pentagram. In the Middle Ages it was also said that witches and heathens blessed themselves with the pentagram instead of making the sign of the cross. Hence the name 'witch's cross'.

Runes

Runes are characters used by the Germanic peoples before adoption of the Latin alphabet. They were originally symbols used in magic practices (oracles). According to Nordic tradition the first runes were discovered by the god Wotan (Odin), who in his striving for knowledge boldly underwent a painful ritual. After having stuck a spear into his side he hung for nine days on the branches of his Scandinavian tree of life. While his body swayed in the wind a few twigs broke off and fell to the ground in a pattern from which the runic alphabet arose. Things naturally look quite different if you go by the historical evidence, according to which the first runic alphabet, named 'Futhark' after the initials of the first six runes, was developed c. 200 AD by mortals in Denmark or Sweden. These first Germanic runes were relatively primitive and simply comprised straight lines arranged in various combinations. They were used for many non-magical purposes, including for writing letters, noting instructions and recording details of ownership in writing. The best-known runic inscription is to be found on the 'Sigurd Rune Stone' in Sweden and is reminiscent of the structure of a bridge. But right from the start magic powers were ascribed to runes. The Vikings and other Germanic peoples used runes for soothsaying, engraved them on their swords to make them invincible in battle, carved them on stone amulets to protect themselves against disease and magic and chiselled them on gravestones to ward off grave robbers. As from c. 450 BC runes were also used in England, where Anglo-Saxon magicians used them for amulets and for soothsaying. Thus far, over four thousand runes have been found in Sweden, Norway, Denmark and England.

SUPERSTITION

It is hard to say which superstition regarding black cats arose first. There is an ancient Nordic saga about the chariot of the goddess Freya, which was pulled by black cats. When the Nordic peoples had been converted to Christianity Freya became a witch and the black cats became black horses, which were unusually fast and doubtless possessed by the devil. The saga also relates that after having served as horses for seven years the cats were rewarded by being transformed into witches – though in the guise of black cats. In ancient Egypt, where cats were worshipped more than other animals, black cats were a symbol of good luck. But in the Middle Ages, when belief in witches was rife, black cats were blamed for everything evil. Black cats were held to be witches' familiars, and as in the Nordic sagas it was believed that after seven years of service cats themselves became witches. It a black cat crossed your path, it was a sign that Satan had given you his attention. Because of the long connection with witches the black cat is the symbol of the Anglo-American Halloween festival. Mariners like black cats, and their wives keep them to ensure their husbands return safe and sound. You will have good luck if an unknown black cat visits you. This turns into bad luck if the cat decides to stay. In America if a black cat crosses your path it brings you bad luck, whereas in England you will have good luck if a cat comes up to you. In Japan if a black cat crosses your path it brings you good luck. In Westphalia it will bring you good luck if a black cat crosses your path from left to right, whereas if it goes in the opposite direction it will bring you bad luck.

SCHEMHAMPHORASCH

Schemhamphorasch, (or written Schempamporasch) This word is used relatively often by Catweazle as a magic spell. But what does it mean? The word is Hebrew in origin, and means approximately 'The name is well pronounced' (uncertain meaning), 'Divided name' or 'Genuine undivided name'. Schemhamphorasch is the designation for the 72-syllable name of God. The source is the Second Book of Moses (14, 19-21). Each of the three verses contains 72 Hebrew letters, resulting in a total of 216 letters. If you now write each of these three verses in a straight line and one above the other – the first right to left, the second left to right and the third right to left again – you obtain 72 vertical three-letter lines, each forming a word. If you add the relevant Hebrew endings you obtain the names of 72 angels of attributes of God. Picture: The 72 holy names of God with their mystical connections.

SATOR-FORMULA

SATOR AREPO TENET OPERA ROTAS ,is one of Catweazle's favourite formulas. This so-called Sator-Formula, Sator-formula (also called the 'Sator square') is a magic formula in the form of a square. The five words can be read vertically in both directions, i.e. from top to bottom or from bottom to top, and horizontally from left to right or right to left. This is known as a palindrome. A palindrome is a sequence of letters, words or numbers that are the same (or at least make sense) when read forwards or backwards. Because of this rare property, magic powers are ascribed to the SATOR-AREPO formula. It is one of the most widespread magic formulas, and the literal translation is: 'The sower Arepo holds the wheels with difficulty.' However, the exact meaning of the word Arepo is not quite clear. It is assumed that it is a name, though it is also possible that is derives from the Celtic word for plough, 'arepos'. There are many possible interpretations. Thus it could also mean: 'The sower Arepo keeps his works moving.' It can also be rearranged as an anagram, e.g.: 'Satan, ter oro te, reparato opes!' (Satan, thrice I beseech you: Give me back my fortune!) The word 'paternoster' is also recognisable in it. Regarding the origin of the SATOR-AREPO formula, the oldest evidence hitherto dates from 79 AD, Pompeii. The formula also appears on one of the pentacles of Saturn in The Key of King Solomon (Clavicula Salomonis). According to this book of spells this pentacle with its words is very useful 'against any unpleasantness', and is in particular used to repress the pride of the spirits. If you make incorrect use of it, however, it allegedly conjures up the negative power of Saturn and thus feelings of worry and restriction.

TOADS

In traditions and legends toads have long been associated with witches and magicians. Witches were allegedly able to transform themselves into toads, kept them as pets or even used parts of them as ingredients for magic potions. Symbolically toads are related to the moon and the earth and in general to the female/maternal principle. In popular belief the toad is a spirit and a guardian of treasure that protects the house against misfortune. In China it stands for fertility and wealth.

THIRTEEN

In the episode The Eye of Time Catweazle catches 13 fish. The thirteenth fish is supposed to be something special, since according to Catweazle the number 13 means good luck for magicians. But surely the number thirteen means bad luck? What is the actual situation? As with much superstition there are different meanings, and thirteen can bring both good and bad luck. People used to believe that there were thirteen moons (i.e. months) rather than our traditional twelve, and if there are thirteen moons then thirteen must bring good luck. The Egyptians liked the number thirteen and thought it represented the final stage of earthly presence before entering the next world. They imagined a symbolic ladder with twelve steps that one had to climb in the course of one's life, whereby every rung represented a step on the way to knowledge. The thirteenth step led to eternal life. Death was just a transformation, not the end, and many people longed for this thirteenth step with some impatience. The origin of the superstition that thirteen is an unlucky number is shrouded in mystery. There is a theory as to how thirteen became an unlucky number, namely that when prehistoric peoples counted up their fingers and their feet they made it twelve. After that came the unknown or thirteen. Because the unknown is frightening, thirteen became a sinister concept. 'If thirteen people are sitting at table, the first and the last will die before the year is out.' Perhaps this superstition goes back to the biblical story that at the Last Supper twelve people sat at table with Jesus. As is well known, the traitor Judas left the table first and later committed suicide. It is thus clear that there are many different inte

TANIT

Tanit (also known as Tinnit) is a Phoenician moon goddess and the tutelary goddess of the city of Carthage. Since she is also held to be a goddess of fertility the Romans equated her with the goddess Juno, and the Greeks equated her with the goddess of hunting and fertility, Artemis. Her sign is a symbol found on many ancient stone engravings: a trapezium closed by a horizontal line at the top, surmounted by a circle (see left). One of the occasions when Catweazle mentions Tanit is at the beginning of the episode 'The Power of Adamcos': Whilst holding the telephone receiver in his hand he says: Great mother Tanit, I call to you.... In the first episode Catweazle mentions the howling owl Son of Tanit.

WITCHE'S MARK

In the episode The Black Wheels Catweazle says to the doctor when he wants to give him an injection: No pricking! I'm not a witch! Why? Do you prick witches? In the persecution of witches during the Middle Ages the search for a witch's mark was a preferred test for securing conviction of witches. It was believed that every witch had a mark on her body that was applied during initiation by the devil. This mark could be a mole, a birthmark, a wart or a spot that was insensitive and bloodless. By pricking with a needle or a sharp instrument people tried to discover the witch's mark.

WALKING UNDER A LADDER

Why does walking under a ladder bring you bad luck? A leaning ladder forms a triangle or pyramid – both of which used to be symbols of life. It was formerly believed that anyone passing through this holy triangle would be punished. In the Asiatic countries criminals are actually hung from a leaning ladder, not from a free-standing one. This is because it is believed that death is contagious and that people who walk under the ladder will encounter the spirit of the hanged person and will die. To the Ancient Egyptians the ladder was a harbinger of good luck. According to an Egyptian legend the sun-god Osiris used a ladder to escape when he was held captive by the spirit of darkness. Today many Egyptians wear miniature ladders as lucky amulets. If you do walk under a ladder there are three things you can do to stop the otherwise inevitable bad luck: you can quickly make a wish whilst still under the ladder, you can clasp your hands until you see a dog, or you can walk backwards under the ladder to the point where you started the fateful process.

ZODIAC

The system of the twelve signs of the zodiac has been known since the 2nd century AD. Thousands of years ago astronomical researchers observed that the sun and the planets, which year after year moved across the sky, always travelled on the same narrow path around the earth. This path, which the Greeks called 'zodiakos', was divided by astrologers into twelve equal sections, the so-called signs of the zodiac, to each of which a constellation – Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius and Pisces – and a period of the year was assigned. Astrologers use the position of the sun and the planets within the circle of stars to make predictions and to determine the personality of the people born under the sign of the zodiac in question. The qualities belonging to each sign of the zodiac were developed thousands of years ago, and have been increasingly refined in the course of time. Curious about what the twelve signs of the zodiac are like in Catweazle? Just click on the relevant picture: (images of 12 signs of zodiac with click links to catweazle stills).