The Athame
An Athame (also known as the Athamé or the Black-Handed Dagger) is a main ritual implement or magical tool among several used in the religion of Wicca, and is also used in various other neopagan witchcraft traditions.
Descriptions[]
An Athame is usually a ceremonial dagger with a double-edged blade and usually a black handle. While this is the common form this takes, this is not required, and anything of similar shape can be used as an athame (scissors, combs, kitchen knifes, etc.).
Symbolism[]
The Athame often stands as one of the four elemental tools in Wicca; traditionally standing for fire (or air, alternative to the wand), as does the ritual sword. The other three elemental tools are the wand, the pentacle, and the cup or chalice. These four magical tools correspond to four 'weapons' of significance in Celtic myth - the sword, the spear, the shield, and the cauldron (and/or grail).
Uses in Witchcraft[]
The Athame usually represents "the Sword" found in neopagan faith. It is commonly percieved as a mascualine tool because of its phalic shape. Priests would use them in rutals as priestesses would use cups, symbolising the phallus and the reciprocal for the phallus.
