What does Barbelith mean?
From Barbelith
Barbelith is a reference from the Grant Morrison comic book, The Invisibles. In the comic, it's first explained as a mysterious satellite hidden behind the Moon... but it gets much weirder from there. Grant Morrison claims the word came to him in a dream.
Grant has - on occasion - claimed that it was meant to mean 'alien stone', where barb would refer to barbarian or outlander (the words "barbarian" and "barbarous" are ultimately derived from ancient Greek βάρβαρος barbaros (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbarian), meaning "foreign" - the "barbar" is apparently imitative of foreign speech). He's also said that etymologically it has more to do with 'bearded stone' (Latin barba, "beard", no relation to Greek barbaros, and Greek lithos, "stone"). (cf. the Gnostic Christ who appears to Dane MacGowan in the comic and says 'I am the hidden stone and break all hearts...')
In any case, it sounds cool and seems fraught with significance but is ultimately of uncertain meaning, which means it's up for grabs.
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Barbelith and Barbelo of the Barbelites
There were also, perhaps synchronistically, a sect of early Gnostic Christians known as Barbelognostics (http://www.bookfx.net/books/gnostic/b.htm), so called for their reverence for Barbelo (http://www.enemies.com/html/artgallery/archives/webonly/illus_04.html), the first, feminine emanation (http://www.kheper.auz.com/topics/Gnosticism/first_emanation.html) of the distant Godhead.
From the Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06592a.htm):
"This Gnostic figure, appearing in a number of systems... remains to a certain extent an enigma. The name barbelo, barbeloth, barthenos has not been explained with certainty. In any case she represents the supreme female principle, is in fact the highest Godhead in its female aspect. Barbelo has most of the functions of the ano Sophia as described above. So prominent was her place amongst some Gnostics that some schools were designated as Barbeliotae, Barbelo worshippers of Barbelognostics. She is probably none other than the Light-Maiden of the Pistis Sophia, the thygater tou photos or simply the Maiden, parthenos. In Epiphanius (Haer., xxvi, 1) and Philastrius (Haer., xxxiii) Parthenos (Barbelos) seems identical with Noria, who plays a great role as wife either of Noe or of Seth. The suggestion, that Noria is "Maiden", parthenos, Istar, Athena, Wisdom, Sophia, or Archamoth, seems worthy of consideration."
Other intriguing resonances
Links have also been made between "Barbelith" and "Boibeloth," (or "Boibel Loth") (http://www.angelfire.com/journal/cathbodua/Ogham.html) the Celtic "language of the trees." (http://www.employees.org/~mcgregor/clan_gaelic/clan_gaelic_ogham.html)
On the "bearded stone" angle -- in Dalian, China, they have a hairy stone on exhibit (http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1327777.html), according to the Ananova newswire in March of 2005. There's a picture at the link.
Barbelith as a 'brand'
In addition to its use in The Invisibles, Barbelith is now a brand name and a URL. It does not mean that the board universally shares the beliefs or the politics espoused by the Invisibles in the comic book of the same name. Instead it should be thought of as honouring the origins of the community.
Barbelith as not-a-brand
Of late, there has been talk about the implications of the name Barbelith for the board, with some members viewing the name as a way of honoring the board's original ideals, and others skeptical about this and concerned about the impression of the board the name creates for prospective members. There is a plurality opinion that the work of The Invisibles is flawed or at least limited in several key ways. The result has been that newcomers often arrive with the impression that Barbelith is a fan site for The Invisibles and for Grant Morrison's work in general, and are disappointed to learn that the emphasis of the board is generally elsewhere. --Entitything 14:31, 17 May 2007 (EDT)
