Hypostasis of the Archons
Encyclopedia
The Hypostasis of the Archons or The Reality of the Rulers is an exegesis
on the Book of Genesis 1-6 and expresses Gnostic mythology of the creations of the cosmos and humanity.
, in CG II
, in 1945. It is tentatively dated in the third century CE and is thought to originate from a transitional period in Gnosticism when it was converting from a purely mythological state into a philosophical phase. The beginning and conclusion to the document are Christian Gnostic, but the rest of the material is a mythological narrative regarding the origin and nature of the archontic powers peopling the heavens between Earth and the Ogdoad
, and how the destiny of man is affected by these primeval happenings.
The work is presented as a learned treatise in which a teacher addresses a topic suggested by the dedicatee of the work. The treatise begins with a fragment of cosmogony
, which leads to a revisionistic "true history" of the events in the Genesis creation story, reflecting Gnostic distrust of the material world and the demiurge that created it. Within this narrative there is an "angelic revelation dialogue" where an angel repeats and elaborates the author's fragment of cosmogonic myth in much broader scope, concluding with historical prediction of the coming of the savior and the end of days.
Although the etymologies and puns on Semitic names suggest the author's close contact with Jewish legends and interpretive traditions as well as Greek mythology
, the myth is intended to be anti-Jewish. In addition, apart from the opening paragraph, the work contains no non-Gnostic Christian characteristics. As the original Greek text has not been discovered, the only known version is the Coptic translation from Nag Hammadi.
Incorruptibility
The Child: Presides over the entirety
The Four Luminaries: Eleleth and three others
The True Human Being
The Undominated Race
Wisdom
: Sophia
or Pistis Sophia
Zoe (Life
): daughter of Sophia
Yaldabaoth: The chief ruler also called Sakla and Samael
Sabaoth: One of Yaldabaoth's first seven offspring
Adam
: The first human being
Eve
: Adam's wife and counterpart
Cain: Eve's son begotten by the rulers
Abel: Eve's son begotten by Adam
Seth
: a son through god
Norea
: Eve's daughter
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...
on the Book of Genesis 1-6 and expresses Gnostic mythology of the creations of the cosmos and humanity.
Text's Origin and Content
The text was found among those included in The Nag Hammadi LibraryNag Hammadi library
The Nag Hammadi library is a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts discovered near the Upper Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi in 1945. That year, twelve leather-bound papyrus codices buried in a sealed jar were found by a local peasant named Mohammed Ali Samman...
, in CG II
Nag Hammadi Codex II
Nag Hammadi Codex II is a papyrus codex with a collection of early Christian Gnostic texts in Coptic . The manuscript has survived in nearly perfect condition. The codex is dated to the 4th century...
, in 1945. It is tentatively dated in the third century CE and is thought to originate from a transitional period in Gnosticism when it was converting from a purely mythological state into a philosophical phase. The beginning and conclusion to the document are Christian Gnostic, but the rest of the material is a mythological narrative regarding the origin and nature of the archontic powers peopling the heavens between Earth and the Ogdoad
Ogdoad
In Egyptian mythology, the Ogdoad were eight deities worshipped in Hermopolis during what is called the Old Kingdom, the third through sixth dynasties, dated between 2686 to 2134 BC...
, and how the destiny of man is affected by these primeval happenings.
The work is presented as a learned treatise in which a teacher addresses a topic suggested by the dedicatee of the work. The treatise begins with a fragment of cosmogony
Cosmogony
Cosmogony, or cosmogeny, is any scientific theory concerning the coming into existence or origin of the universe, or about how reality came to be. The word comes from the Greek κοσμογονία , from κόσμος "cosmos, the world", and the root of γίνομαι / γέγονα "to be born, come about"...
, which leads to a revisionistic "true history" of the events in the Genesis creation story, reflecting Gnostic distrust of the material world and the demiurge that created it. Within this narrative there is an "angelic revelation dialogue" where an angel repeats and elaborates the author's fragment of cosmogonic myth in much broader scope, concluding with historical prediction of the coming of the savior and the end of days.
Although the etymologies and puns on Semitic names suggest the author's close contact with Jewish legends and interpretive traditions as well as Greek mythology
Greek mythology
Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...
, the myth is intended to be anti-Jewish. In addition, apart from the opening paragraph, the work contains no non-Gnostic Christian characteristics. As the original Greek text has not been discovered, the only known version is the Coptic translation from Nag Hammadi.
Mythic Characters
The Parent of the Entirety: The invisible virgin spiritIncorruptibility
The Child: Presides over the entirety
The Four Luminaries: Eleleth and three others
The True Human Being
The Undominated Race
Wisdom
Wisdom
Wisdom is a deep understanding and realization of people, things, events or situations, resulting in the ability to apply perceptions, judgements and actions in keeping with this understanding. It often requires control of one's emotional reactions so that universal principles, reason and...
: Sophia
Sophia (Gnosticism)
Sophia is a central idea in Hellenistic philosophy and religion, Platonism, Gnosticism, Orthodox Christianity, Esoteric Christianity, as well as Christian mysticism...
or Pistis Sophia
Pistis Sophia
Pistis Sophia is an important Gnostic text, possibly written as early as the 2nd century. The five remaining copies, which scholars place in the 5th or 6th centuries, relate the Gnostic teachings of the transfigured Jesus to the assembled disciples , when the risen Christ had accomplished eleven...
Zoe (Life
Life
Life is a characteristic that distinguishes objects that have signaling and self-sustaining processes from those that do not, either because such functions have ceased , or else because they lack such functions and are classified as inanimate...
): daughter of Sophia
Yaldabaoth: The chief ruler also called Sakla and Samael
Samael
Samael is an important archangel in Talmudic and post-Talmudic lore, a figure who is accuser, seducer and destroyer, and has been regarded as both good and evil...
Sabaoth: One of Yaldabaoth's first seven offspring
Adam
Adam
Adam is a figure in the Book of Genesis. According to the creation myth of Abrahamic religions, he is the first human. In the Genesis creation narratives, he was created by Yahweh-Elohim , and the first woman, Eve was formed from his rib...
: The first human being
Eve
Eve
Eve is the first woman created by God in the Book of Genesis.Eve may also refer to:-People:*Eve , a common given name and surname*Eve , American recording artist and actress-Places:...
: Adam's wife and counterpart
Cain: Eve's son begotten by the rulers
Abel: Eve's son begotten by Adam
Seth
Seth
Seth , in Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is the third listed son of Adam and Eve and brother of Cain and Abel, who are the only other of their children mentioned by name...
: a son through god
Norea
Norea
Norea is a figure in Gnostic cosmology. Sometimes she is said to be the syzygy of Adam, or wife of Noah, and daughter of Eve. Norea is perceived within gnostic thought as Sophia after her fall from grace....
: Eve's daughter