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In many Gnostic systems, various emanations of "God" are known by such names as One, Monad, ''Aion teleos'' (αἰών τέλεος "The Broadest Aeon"), Bythos ("depth or profundity", ), ''Proarkhe'' ("before the beginning", ), ''Arkhe'' ("the beginning", ), and Aeons. In different systems these emanations are differently named, classified, and described, but emanation theory is common to all forms of Gnosticism. In Basilidian Gnosis they are called sonships (υἱότητες ''huiotetes''; sing.: υἱότης ''huiotes''); according to Marcus, they are numbers and sounds; in Valentinianism they form male/female pairs called syzygies (Greek , from σύζυγοι ''syzygoi'', lit. "yokings together"). This source of all being is an Aeon, in which an inner being dwells, known as ''Ennoea'' ("thought, intent", Greek ), ''Charis'' ("grace", Greek ), or ''Sige'' ("silence", Greek ). The split perfect being conceives the second Aeon, ''Nous'' ("mind", Greek Νους), within itself. Along with male ''Nous'' comes female Aeon ''Aletheia'' ("truth", Greek Αληθεια). These are the primary roots of Aeons. Complex hierarchies of Aeons are thus produced, sometimes to the number of thirty. These Aeons belong to a purely ideal, noumenal, intelligible, or supersensible world; they are immaterial, they are hypostatic ideas. Together with the source from which they emanate, they form ''Pleroma'' ("region of light", Greek ). The lowest regions of Pleroma are closest to darkness—that is, the physical world. The transition from immaterial to material, from noumenal to sensible, is created by a flaw, passion, or sin in an Aeon. According to Basilides, it is a flaw in the last sonship; according to others the sin of the Great Archon, or Aeon-Creator, of the Universe; according to others it is the passion of the female Aeon Sophia, who emanates without her partner Aeon, resulting in the ''Demiurge'' (Greek ),〔Lit. "half-creator," occasionally referred to as ''Yaldabaoth,'' "Son of Chaos".〕 a creature that should never have been. This creature does not belong to Pleroma, and the One emanates two savior Aeons, ''Christ'' and ''the Holy Spirit'', to save humanity from the Demiurge. Christ then took a human form (''Jesus''), to teach humanity how to achieve Gnosis. The ultimate end of all Gnosis is μετάνοια ''metanoia'', or repentance—undoing the sin of material existence and returning to Pleroma. Aeons bear a number of similarities to Judaeo-Christian angels, including roles as servants and emanations of God, and existing as beings of light. In fact, certain Gnostic Angels, such as Armozel, are also Aeons. The Gnostic Gospel of Judas, recently found, purchased, held, and translated by the National Geographic Society, also mentions Aeons and speaks of Jesus' teachings about them.〔(The Lost Gospel ) - online feature from National Geographic, including (Coptic text, English translation, and photos ).〕 ==Valentinus== Valentinus assumed, as the beginning of all things, the Primal Being or Bythos, who after ages of silence and contemplation, gave rise to other beings by a process of emanation. The first series of beings, the Aeons, were thirty in number, representing fifteen syzygies or pairs sexually complementary. One common form is outlined below:〔Mead, p. 231.〕 The Valentinian system was, until recently, only known through the criticisms of its opponents; however, the discovery of the Nag Hammadi library has given access to Valentinian texts, including sources that have been tentatively identified as written by Valentinus. Tertullian's ''Against the Valentinians'' gives a slightly different sequence. The first eight of these Aeons, corresponding to generations one through four below, are referred to as the ''Ogdoad.''〔''Against the Valentinians'' ((ラテン語:Adversus Valentinianos)) Books 7-8.〕 *First generation * *''Bythos'' (the One) and ''Sige'' (Silence, Charis, Ennoea, etc.) *Second generation * *''Nous'' (Nus, Mind) and ''Aletheia'' (Veritas, Truth) *Third generation, emanated from Nous and Aletheia * *''Sermo'' (the Word) and ''Vita'' (the Life) *Fourth generation, emanated from Sermo and Vita * *''Anthropos'' (Homo, Man) and ''Ecclesia'' (Church)〔Iren. I. i. p. 7, v. p. 17; Hippol. ''Ref''. vi. 30, p. 187; Epiph. ''Haer''. 31, pp. 165, 169.〕 *Fifth generation * *Emanated from Sermo and Vita: * * *''Bythios'' (Profound) and ''Mixis'' (Mixture) * * *''Ageratos'' (Never old) and ''Henosis'' (Union) * * *''Autophyes'' (Essential nature) and ''Hedone'' (Pleasure) * * *''Acinetos'' (Immovable) and ''Syncrasis'' (Commixture) * * *''Monogenes'' (Only-begotten) and ''Macaria'' (Happiness) * *Emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia * * *''Paracletus'' (Comforter) and ''Pistis'' (Faith) * * *''Patricas'' (Paternal) and ''Elpis'' (Hope) * * *''Metricos'' (Maternal) and ''Agape'' (Love) * * *''Ainos'' (Praise) and ''Synesis'' (Intelligence) * * *''Ecclesiasticus'' (Son of Ecclesia) and ''Macariotes'' (Blessedness) * * *''Theletus'' (Perfect) and ''Sophia'' (Wisdom) ==Ptolemy and Colorbasus== According to Irenaeus,〔''Against Heresies'' (Latin: ''Adversus Haereses'') also known as ''The Detection and Overthrow of Falsely So-Called Gnosis'' I. xii.〕 the followers of the Gnostics Ptolemy and Colorbasus had Aeons that differ from those of Valentinus. Logos is created when Anthropos learns to speak. The first four are called the ''Tetrad'' and the eight are called the ''Ogdoad.'' *First generation * *''Bythos'' (the One) and ''Sige'' (Silence, Charis, Ennoea, etc.) *Second generation (conceived by the One): * *''Ennoea'' (Thought) and ''Thelesis'' (Will) *Third generation, emanated from Ennoea and Thelesis: * *''Nous'' (or ''Monogenes'') and ''Aletheia'' *Fourth generation, emanated from Nous and Aletheia: * *''Anthropos'' (Homo, Man) and ''Ecclesia'' (Church) *Fifth generation, emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia: * *''Logos'' and ''Zoe'' *Sixth generation: * *Emanated from Logos and Zoe: * * *''Bythius'' and ''Mixis'' * * *''Ageratos'' and ''Henosis'' * * *''Autophyes'' and ''Hedone'' * * *''Acinetos'' and ''Syncrasis'' * * *''Monogenes'' and ''Macaria'' * *Emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia: * * *''Paracletus'' and ''Pistis'' * * *''Patricos'' and ''Elpis'' * * *''Metricos'' and ''Agape'' * * *''Ainos'' and ''Synesis'' * * *''Ecclesiasticus'' and ''Macariotes'' * * *''Theletos'' and ''Sophia'' The order of Anthropos and Ecclesia versus Logos and Zoe is somewhat debated; different sources give different accounts. Logos and Zoe are unique to this system as compared to the previous, and may be an evolved version of the first, totalling 32 Aeons, but it is not clear if the first two were actually regarded Aeons.
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