Archon (Gnosticism)

Archons (Greek: ἄρχων, romanized: árchōn, plural: ἄρχοντες, árchontes), in Gnosticism and religions closely related to it, are the builders of the physical universe. Among the Archontics, Ophites, Sethians and in the writings of Nag Hammadi library, the archons are rulers, each related to one of seven planets; they prevent souls from leaving the material realm. The political connotation of their name reflects rejection of the governmental system, as flawed without chance of true salvation.^[1] In Manichaeism, the archons are the rulers of a realm within the "Kingdom of Darkness", who together make up the Prince of Darkness. In The Reality of the Rulers, the physical appearance of Archons is described as hermaphroditic, with their faces being those of beasts.^[2]^[3]^[4]

^ Francis T. Fallon "The Enthronement of Sabaoth" Brill Archive, 1978 p. 80
^ "Archons". Gnosticism Explained. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ Hypostasis of the Archons. Retrieved 25 October 2021.
^ Lillie, Celene. "Reality of the Rulers" (PDF). Taho Center. Taho Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-07-14.

[1] Francis T. Fallon "The Enthronement of Sabaoth" Brill Archive, 1978 p. 80

[2] "Archons". Gnosticism Explained. Retrieved 25 October 2021.

[3] Hypostasis of the Archons. Retrieved 25 October 2021.

[4] Lillie, Celene. "Reality of the Rulers" (PDF). Taho Center. Taho Center. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-10-13. Retrieved 2022-07-14.

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