- archon
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—archonship, n./ahr"kon/, n.1. a higher magistrate in ancient Athens.2. any ruler.[1650-60; < Gk árchon magistrate, ruler, n. use of prp. of árchein to be first, rule; see ARCHI-]
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In Gnosticism, any of various world-governing powers created with the material world by the Demiurge.Because the Gnostics regarded the material world as evil or as the product of error, Archons were considered forces of evil. Seven or 12 in number, they were identified with the seven planets of antiquity or the 12 signs of the zodiac. They were thought to have imprisoned the divine spark of human souls in material creation. The gnosis sent from the realms of divine light through Jesus enabled Gnostic initiates to pass through the spheres of the Archons into the realms of light.* * *
in Gnosticism, any of a number of world-governing powers that were created with the material world by a subordinate deity called the Demiurge (Creator). The Gnostics were religious dualists who held that matter is evil and the spirit good and that salvation is attained by esoteric knowledge, or gnosis.Because the Gnostics of the 2nd and 3rd centuries, who generally originated within Christianity, regarded the material world as outright evil or as the product of error, Archons were viewed as maleficent forces. They numbered 7 or 12 and were identified with the seven planets of antiquity or with the signs of the zodiac. Sometimes the Demiurge and the Archons were identified with the God, the angels, and the law of the Old Testament and hence received Hebrew names. The recurring image of Archons is that of jailers imprisoning the divine spark in human souls held captive in material creation. The purpose of the gnosis sent from the realms of divine light beyond the universe through the divine emanation (aeon) Christ was to enable Gnostic initiates to pass through the spheres of the Archons into the realms of light.* * *
Universalium. 2010.
