Talisman

TALISMAN. This Name is given to certain Figures, or Characters, of a Celestial Sign, of a Constellation, or of a Planet, engraven upon a sympathetick Stone, or upon a Metal corresponding to the Star, to receive the Influences of it. Some think the Word Talisman is a mere Arabick Word; others that it is Persian, and signifies a starry Engraving. Others derive it from the Greek Word Talesma, Conservation. M. du Cange makes it come from Talemasca, which signifies Illusion, Phantom; whence literæ Talemascæ, unknown Letters or Characters, such as Sorcerers use. Some Rabbins, and after them Sir Robert Marsham, have pretended that the Brazen Serpent in the Wilderness, which Moses set up to cure the Israelites that were bitten by Serpents, was a Talisman. The Arabians give the Surname of Talismatick to Apollonius Tyanæus, because he made use of a Talisman to perform his false Miracles, by which he abused the ignorant People of that Age. Abulpharage relates that he used to say, Woe to me, because I came into the World after the Son of Mary. The Jews think that Jesus Christ performed his Miracles by means of the Name Jehovah, which he had stolen out of the Temple, the true Pronunciation of which he had found, tho’ it was unknown to them.

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