Aeon

{{Refimprove|date=June 2007}}

{{two other uses||the [[geologic]] [[time]]|eon (geology)}}

The word '''''aeon''''', also spelled '''''eon''''' or '''''æon''''', means "age", "forever" or "for [[eternity]]". It is a [[Latin]] transliteration from the [[koine Greek]] word {{polytonic|ὁ αἰών}} (''aion''), from the archaic {{polytonic|αἰϝών}}, ''aiwon'': in Homer it typically refers to life or lifespan, but by at least Hesiod it could refer to ages or generations. It has a similar meaning to the [[Sanskrit]] word ''[[kalpa (time unit)|kalpa]]'' and Hebrew ''olam''. A cognate Latin word ''aevum'' or ''aeuum'' (cf. {{polytonic|αἰϝών}}) for "age" is present in words such as ''longevity'' and ''mediæval''. <ref>[http://www.pballew.net/arithm16.html]</ref>

Although a proposal was made in 1957 to define an aeon to be a unit of time equal to one billion years (1 Ga), the idea was not approved as a unit of scientific measure and is seldom used for a specific period of time.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} Its more common usage is for any long, indefinite, period of time.

==In philosophy and mysticism==
Occultists sometimes speak of a "magical Aeon" that may last for far less time, perhaps as little as 2,000 years. See [[Thelema]].

[[Plato]] used the word ''aeon'' to denote the eternal world of ideas, which he conceived was "behind" the perceived world, as demonstrated in his famous [[allegory of the cave]].

===In Gnosticism===
{{Gnosticism}}
In many [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] systems, the various [[emanationism|emanations]] of [[God]], who is also known by such names as '''the One''', the [[Monad (Gnosticism)|Monad]], ''Aion teleos'' (The Perfect Aeon), [[Bythos]] (Depth or profundity, Greek {{polytonic|Βυθός}}), ''Proarkhe'' (Before the Beginning, Greek {{polytonic|πρόαρχή}}), the ''Arkhe'' (The Beginning, Greek {{polytonic|ή αρχή}}), are called '''aeons'''. This first being is also an æon and has an inner being within itself, known as ''Ennoea'' (Thought), ''Charis'' (Grace), or ''Sige'' (Greek {{polytonic|Σιγη}}, Silence). The split perfect being conceives the second aeon, Caen (Power), within itself. Along with the male Caen comes the female æon [[Akhana]] (Truth, Love).

Aeons bear a number of similarities to Judaeo-Christian angels, including their roles as servants and emanations of God, and their existence as beings of light. In fact, certain Gnostic Angels, such as [[Armozel]], also happen to be Aeons.<ref>[http://www.snant.com/fp/gnostic-names-from-a-to-z/]</ref>

The aeons often came in male/female pairs called [[Syzygy|''syzygies'']], and were frequently numerous (20-30). Two of the most commonly listed æons were [[Jesus]] and [[Sophia (gnosticism)|Sophia]]. The aeons constitute the ''[[pleroma]]'', the "region of light." The lowest regions of the pleroma are closest to the darkness — that is, the physical world.

When an æon named ''Sophia'' emanates without her partner aeon, the result is the ''[[Demiurge]]'', or half-creator (Occasionally referred to as ''''Yalda Baoth''' in Gnostic texts), a creature that should never have come into existence. This creature does not belong to the pleroma, and the One emanates two savior æons, ''[[Christ]]'' and ''the [[Holy Spirit]]'', to save humanity from the Demiurge. Christ then took the form of the human ''Jesus'', in order to be able to teach humanity how to achieve [[gnosis]]; that is, return to the pleroma.

Myther and others suggest{{Fact|date=December 2007}} that the whole mechanism can be an allegorical representation of violation of [[CP symmetry]], required to create a universe of matter, by facilitating particles to win over antiparticles. CP symmetry requires emanation of equal amount of matters and antimatters which obviously has been violated somehow in the beginning of the universe; otherwise we would not have a material universe. Æons may denote this conjugation of particles-antiparticles produced in equal number. Somehow the perfect symmetry of Pleroma gets violated and a particle or a number of particles (Sophia) ensued out without its/their antiparticle counterparts, resulting in an increase in number of particles (birth of Demiurge) – a process which ultimately led to the creation of our physical universe.''{{Fact|date=November 2007}}

The Gnostic [[Gospel of Judas]], recently found, purchased, held, and translated by the [[National Geographic Society]], also mentions the aeons and speaks of Jesus' teachings of them.<ref>[http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/ The Lost Gospel] - online feature from National Geographic, including [http://www9.nationalgeographic.com/lostgospel/document.html Coptic text, English translation, and photos]</ref>

====Valentinus====
We only know the details of this system from its opponents. According to [[Tertullian]]'s ''Against the Valentinians'', the Gnostic [[Valentinius]] had 30 different aeons that emanate each other in sequence. The first eight of these aeons, corresponding to generations one through four below, are referred to as the ''Ogdoad.''<ref>Tertullian. ''Against the Valentinians''. ([[Latin]]: ''Adversus Valentinianos''.) Books 7-8.</ref>

[[Image:aeons.gif|600px|right|Scheme of the Aeons]]

*First generation:
**''Bythos'' (the One) and ''Sige'' (Silence, Charis, Ennoea, etc.)

*Second generation:
**''Caen'' (Power) and ''Akhana'' (Love)

*Third generation, emanated from Caen and Akhana:
**''Nous'' (Nus, Mind) and ''Aletheia'' (Veritas, Truth)

*Fourth generation, emanated from Nous and Aletheia:
**''Sermo'' (the Word) and ''Vita'' (the Life)

*Fifth generation, emanated from Sermo and Vita:
**''Anthropos'' (Homo, Humanity) and ''Ecclesia'' (Church)

*Sixth 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)

According to Myther et alia in some unreferenced work,

:''The total number of Æons, being 32, reflects the similarity of the mechanism to the [[Tree of Life (Kabbalah)|Tree of Life]], which, as suggested in the [[Zohar]], incorporates 10 [[Sephiroth]] and 22 paths interconnecting these 10 Sephiroth; while 10 Æons are created during the first five generations from which come the other 22 Æons later during the sixth generation.'' "Myther" et al. {{Fact|date=November 2007}}



====Ptolemy and Colorbasus====
According to [[Irenaeus|St. Irenaeus]] <ref>Irenaeus. ''Against heresies'' (Latin: ''Adversus Haereses'') also known as ''[[The Detection and Overthrow of Falsely So-Called Gnosis]]'' book 1, chapter 12</ref>, the followers of the [[Gnosticism|Gnostics]] [[Ptolemy (Gnostic)|Ptolemy]] and [[Colorbasus]] had aeons that differ from those of [[Valentinius]]. 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):
**''Caen'' (Power) and ''Akhana'' (Love)

*Third generation, emanated from Caen and Akhana:
**''Ennoae'' (Thought) and ''Thelesis'' (Will)

*Fourth generation, emanated from Ennoae and Thelesis:
**''Nous'' (or ''Monogenes'') and ''Aletheia''

*Fifth generation, emanated from Nouse and Aletheia:
**''Anthropos'' (Homo, Man) and ''Ecclesia'' (Church)

*Sixth generation, emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia:
**''Logos'' and ''Zoe''

*Seventh 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 34 æons, but it is not clear if the first two were actually regarded æons.

==References in Popular Culture==
[[Final Fantasy X]]- In the popular [[Square-Enix]] video game, Aeons are powerful summons that the player can use to help fight throughout the game. The series, which is usually heavily-laden with mythology and historical references, sticks true to the aeons in persepective. The Aeons are immortal beings that bestows their gifts among those who pray. Everyone believes that the cycle of reincarnation of the evil will never end. In the end, the immortal Aeons die, showing that not everything is forever, then leading up to the death of the immortal evil.

==See also==
*[[Plato]]
*[[Gnosticism]]
*[[Aeon (Thelema)]]
*[[Kalpa (time unit)|Kalpa]]

==References==
<references />

===External links===
*[http://www.gnosis.org/library/ter_val.htm Tertullian's account against the Valentinians] is the source text for much of what we know about the Æons.
*[http://www.gmu.edu/departments/fld/CLASSICS/tertullian.valentinianos.html Corresponding text in original Latin]
*[http://www.gnosis.org/library/advh1.htm Irenaeus: Against heresies]

[[Category:Gnostic deities]]
[[Category:Gnosticism]]

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