Archontics
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The Archontics, or Archontici, were a
History
Beliefs
The Archontics held that there were
"They say," records Epiphanius, "that the soul is the food of the Archons and Powers without which they cannot live, because she is of the dew from above and gives them strength. When she has become imbued with knowledge ... she ascends to heaven and gives a defence before each Power and thus mounts beyond them to the upper Mother and Father of the All whence she came down into this world."[1]
Practices
"Some of them", continues Epiphanius, "pretend to fast after the manner of the monks, deceiving the simple, and boast of having renounced all property."
Texts
Their
- The greater and lesser Symphonia
- The Ascension of Isaiah
- Allogenes
In Mandaean texts
Gelbert (2023) suggests that in the Ginza Rabba (Right Ginza 9.1), the Mandaic term nakriṭia is actually a reference to the Archontics.[3]
Notes
- ^ Epiphanius, Panarion, 40, 2.
- ^ Epiphanius, Panarion, 40, 1.
- ISBN 9780648795414.
Bibliography
- Jonas, Hans (1958). The Gnostic Religion. p. 169.
- Layton, Bentley (1987). The Gnostic Scriptures. Doubleday. pp. 191–198.
- Attribution
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Guldner, Benedict (1907). "Archontics". In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chambers, Ephraim, ed. (1728). "Archonticks". Cyclopædia, or an Universal Dictionary of Arts and Sciences (1st ed.). James and John Knapton, et al.
