AGLA

For other uses, see AGLA (disambiguation).

AGLA (אגלא) is a magic word that appears in some charms. Its meaning is unsettled, but is widely reputed to be a noṭariqōn or kabbalistic acronym for Hebrew: אַתָּה גִּבּוֹר לְעוֹלָם אֲדֹנָי, romanized: ʾAtā gībōr ləʿōlām ʾĂḏōnāy, "Thou, O Lord, art mighty forever", a phrase from Gevurot, the second blessing of the Amidah, the central Jewish prayer. However, according to Katelyn Mesler, "after much searching, I have yet to find evidence of such an interpretation prior to the late fourteenth or fifteenth century, a couple centuries after AGLA begins appearing in magical writings."^[1]

A medieval silver cross pendant inscribed with the letters AG LA

AGLA is found in at least 31 runic inscriptions.^[2] During the Middle Ages, the word was reinterpreted in the Kingdom of Germany as an initialism for Allmächtiger Gott, Lösche Aus, "Almighty God, extinguish the conflagration" and used as a talisman against fire.^[3] It has been inscribed on several medieval Christian silver crosses from England recorded by the Portable Antiquities Scheme, where it was interpreted as a charm against fever.^[4][5]