The meaning of the lyrics of the song "Abraxas" by the artist "Therion"

The lyrics of the song "Abraxas" by the Swedish band Therion, known for their symphonic metal with occult lyrics, are imbued with Gnostic philosophy and the idea of dualism.

From the very first lines, the author draws a parallel between Eros, the personification of life and passion, and Thanatos, the personification of death, calling them branches of the same tree. This metaphor emphasizes the interconnectedness and inseparability of life and death, light and darkness, good and evil.

The question of the possibility of knowing the human soul without the existence of the Devil, the "dark twin" of God, refers to the Gnostic idea that true divinity is one and includes all aspects of being, both light and dark.

The image of Abraxas, the Gnostic deity, the Supreme Father of the Universe, becomes central to the song. He symbolizes unity and integrity, the fusion of opposites - Alpha and Omega, beginning and end.

The path to knowing Abraxas lies through the "pleroma" - divine fullness, where non-being is the basis of all that exists. Birth in this context is possible only through the destruction of the old world, through death and rebirth.

The image of Cain, the first murderer, is interpreted not as a symbol of sin, but as a symbol of rebellion, rejection of established rules and the pursuit of a new life. "Sermons to the Dead" and "The Gospel of Another Life" hint at the search for spiritual enlightenment outside of traditional religion.

At the end of the song, Abraxas appears as a symbol of the eternal cycle of death and rebirth, and the "circle of the solar year" refers to the idea that even in the deepest darkness there is a possibility of a new beginning.