In the game
Grand Theft Auto V, members of a Scientology-like cult called Epsilon pray to the god Kifflom. We can offer an internet exclusive in answering "What does
Kifflom mean?" The sounds of Kifflom, spoken backwards, intone the word
malefic (from the Latin meaning ill-doing). Note that the "kiff" at the beginning of Kifflom is the "fic" of malefic, backwards. The "lom" at the end of the Kifflom is the the "mal" at the beginning of malefic.
There is actually a long history of such word reversals. Consider, for example, the reversals of:
Tien (heaven in Chinese) into Neit (Egyptian goddess)
Mitra (Persian Venus) into Artim (the Greek Artimis)
Rama (love in Sanscrit) into Amor (love in Latin)
Dipuc (love in Sanscrit) into Cupid (Latin)
Chlom (crown in Coptic) into Moloch (king in Hebrew)
Sar (chief in Persian) into Ras (chief in Arabic and Hebrew)
Additionally, Melos refers to "the fearful sword of fire" that descends from "the gate of light," a coded reference to Christ in Abyssinian liturgical texts. King Solomon, who figured highly in Ethiopian mythology, is said to have considered Melos to be a magic word.[1] Note that Melos is a form of the name Solomon. Solomon spelled backwards is Nomolos, which shortens to Molos and hence Melos. (Another common variation is Nemlos.[2])
[1] Phillip Tovey, Inculturation of Christian Worship (2004)
[2] Alois Grillmeier, Christ in Christian Tradition (1975)
