WHAT IT IS

Notarikon is one of the three basic methods of interpretive Kabbalah — along with Gematria and Temurah. Each letter of a word is considered the initial of another word, revealing hidden meaning. Conversely, the initial letters of a phrase form a new word.

HISTORY & SOURCES

Although the word has a Greek root (from notarios = scribe, one who keeps abbreviations), the method is mainly found in the Jewish mystical tradition and passed from there to the Gnostics and early Christians.

There are two basic modes of application:

1. Acronym: Each letter of a word is the initial of a new word, forming a whole phrase. ADAM functions as a notarikon in two different languages: (a) In Hebrew, the 3 letters אדם (Aleph · Dalet · Mem) = Adam · David · Messiah — suggesting the reincarnation of the same soul. (b) In Greek, the 4 letters Α-Δ-Α-Μ = Anatole · Dysis · Arktos · Mesembria — four points of the horizon. This Greek version was used by Gnostics and appears in the Sibylline Oracles.

2. Abbreviation: The initial letters of a series of words join into a new "hidden" word. Example: AGLA from the initials of "Atah Gibor Le-olam Adonai" (You, Lord, are mighty forever) — used in amulets.

The most famous Christian example: ΙΧΘΥΣ = Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior. The fish symbol became the secret identifier of early Christians — each letter of the Greek word "fish" hides a title of Christ.

Relation to Pythagorean Arithmology: While Nicomachus and the Pythagoreans focused on the quantitative nature of numbers, Notarikon focuses on symbolic and linguistic structure. Both systems share, however, the belief that the universe and sacred scriptures are encoded — and require special tools to be unlocked.