Carpocrates

Carpocrates
Carpocrates
Born	mid-late 1st century; Alexandria, Egypt, Roman Empire
Died	2nd century; Cephalonia, Epirus, Roman Empire
Occupation	Leader of early Gnostic sect at Cephalonia
Spouse	Alexandria of Cephalonia
Children	Epiphanes
	Theological work
Tradition or movement	Gnosticism
Main interests	Christianity
Notable ideas	Anamnesis, Antinomianism, Archons, the Demiurge, Reincarnation and Christian proto-communism

Carpocrates of Alexandria (Greek: Καρποκράτης ήταν αλεξανδρινός) was the founder of an early Gnostic sect from the first half of the 2nd century, known as Carpocratians. As with many Gnostic sects, the Carpocratians are known only through the writings of the Church Fathers, principally Irenaeus of Lyons and Clement of Alexandria. As these writers strongly opposed Gnostic doctrine, there is a question of negative bias when using this source. While the various references to the Carpocratians differ in some details, they agree as to the libertinism of the sect, a charge commonly levied by pagans against Christians and conversely by Christians against pagans and heretics.^[1]

^ Lane Fox, Robin (1986). Pagans and Christians in the Mediterranean World from the Second Century AD to the Conversion of Constantine. London, UK: Penguin. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-14-102295-6.

[1] Lane Fox, Robin (1986). Pagans and Christians in the Mediterranean World from the Second Century AD to the Conversion of Constantine. London, UK: Penguin. p. 427. ISBN 978-0-14-102295-6.

[1]

Carpocrates
Born	mid-late 1st century Alexandria, Egypt, Roman Empire
Died	2nd century Cephalonia, Epirus, Roman Empire
Occupation	Leader of early Gnostic sect at Cephalonia
Spouse	Alexandria of Cephalonia
Children	Epiphanes
Theological work
Tradition or movement	Gnosticism
Main interests	Christianity
Notable ideas	Anamnesis, Antinomianism, Archons, the Demiurge, Reincarnation and Christian proto-communism