An athame is a ritual knife used in some ceremonial magick and Wicca traditions. It is specifically described as a double-bladed black-handled knife that is never used to cut anything living. However, modern athames come in many designs In many ceremonial magick and Wiccan traditions, each witch is expected to have their own athame, dedicated to their own ritual use. It is considered very rude to touch another witch’s athame, but they may be passed down or gifted away.

The athame represents the fire element (or air) and is used to direct energy during ritual. It may be used to draw a ritual circle, to inscribe glyphs like a pentagram on the air or the surface of an object. It is also used in the symbolic Great Rite to represent the masculine aspect of creation with the chalice representing the feminine aspect.

The term athame was first coined by Gerald Gardner in his writings in the 1950s in which he first introduced Wicca to the public. While a black-handled knife was used in ceremonial magick prior to Gardner’s introduction, it was not called an athame, but had various names, including cortel nero (black knife). It is believed that Gardner adopted the name based on a mistranslation of this particular tool from Solomonic grimoires. Even so, the name has stuck and many ceremonial magicians and modern witchcraft traditions have comfortably adopted the name for their own ritual blade.

The word apparently derives from the Latin artavus referencing a knife used for sharpening quills in the Medieval era.

The word is pronounced ˈäˈthā-mē, ORˈä thä-mā but I’ve only ever heard it pronounced in the latter way.

Here is a compilation of images of athames I was able to scrounge up to give you an idea of what one might look like. There are many other designs, of course. Including single bladed variations. It is the point which is important as it is used to direct the Will.

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