Archon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon#Gnostic_archons Archon From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Archon (Gr. ἄρχων, pl. ἄρχοντες) is a Greek word that means "ruler" or "lord", frequently used as the title of a specific public office. It is the masculine present participle of the verb stem ἀρχ-, meaning "to rule", derived from the same root as monarch, hierarchy and anarchy. Contents 1 Ancient Greece 2 Byzantine Empire 3 Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople 4 Gnostic Archons 4.1 The Hebdomad 4.2 Mandaean Archons 4.3 Manichaean Archons 4.4 Origins 4.4.1 As planets 4.4.2 In Zoroastrianism 4.5 Usage 4.5.1 In Judaism and Christianity 4.5.2 In Greek theology 5 Other uses 5.1 Real life 5.2 Books 5.3 Movies and television 5.4 Role-playing games 5.5 Video games 5.6 Music 5.7 Others 6 References 6.1 Bibliography Ancient Greece In the early literary period of ancient Greece the chief magistrate in various Greek city states was called Archon.[1] The term was also used throughout Greek history in a more general sense, ranging from "club leader" to "master of the tables" at syssitia to "Roman governor". 1 of 14 03/12/2010 07:27 PM Archon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon#Gnostic_archons [citation needed] In Roman terms, the board of archontes ruled by potestas, whereas the Basileus ("King") had auctoritas. In Athens a system of nine concurrent Archons evolved, led by three respective remits over the civic, military, and religious affairs of the state: the three office holders being known as the Eponymous archon (Ἐπώνυμος ἄρχων; the "name" ruler, who gave his name to the year in which he held office), the Polemarch ("war ruler"), and the Archon Basileus ("king ruler").[2] Originally these offices were filled from the aristocracy by elections every ten years. During this period the eponymous Archon was the chief magistrate, the Polemarch was the head of the armed forces, and the Archon Basileus was responsible for the civic religious arrangements, including many of the law courts. After 683 BC the offices were held for only a single year, and the year was named after the Archōn Epōnymos. (Many ancient calendar systems did not number their years consecutively.) After 487 BC the archonships were assigned by lot to any citizen and the Polemarch's military duties were taken over by new class of generals known as stratēgoí.[citation needed] The ten stratēgoí (one per tribe) were elected, and the office of Polemarch was rotated among them on a daily basis. The Polemarch thereafter had only minor religious duties, and the titular headship over the strategoi. The Archon Eponymous remained the titular head of state under democracy, though of much reduced political importance.[citation needed] The Archons were assisted by "junior" archons, called Thesmothétai (Θεσμοθέται "Institutors"). After 457 BC ex-archons were automatically enrolled as life members of the Areopagus, though that assembly was no longer extremely important politically at that time. (See Archons of Athens.) Byzantine Empire Byzantine historians usually described foreign rulers as archontes.[3] The rulers of the Bulgars themselves, along with their own titles, often bear the title archon placed by God in inscriptions in Greek. Inside Byzantium, the term could be used to refer to any powerful noble or magnate, but in a technical sense, it was applied to a class of provincial governors. In the 8th–9th centuries, these were the governors of some of the more peripheral provinces, inferior in status to the themata: Dalmatia, Cephalonia, Crete and Cyprus. In the 10th–12th centuries, archontes are also mentioned as the governors of specific cities. The area of an archon's jurisdiction was called an archontia' (ἀρχοντία).[4] The title was also used for the holders of several financial posts, such as the head of the mint (ἄρχων τῆς χαραγῆς), as well as directors the imperial workshops, arsenals, etc.[5] The title of megas archon ("grand archon") is also attested, as a translation of foreign titles such as "grand prince". In the mid-13th century, it was established as a special court rank, held by the highest-ranking official of the emperor's company. It existed throughout the Palaiologan period, but did not have any specific functions.[6] 2 of 14 03/12/2010 07:27 PM Archon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon#Gnostic_archons Archons of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople From time to time, laity of the Orthodox Church in communion with the Patriarch of Constantinople have been granted the title of Archon to honor their service to Church administration. In 1963, Archons were organized into a service society dedicated to St Andrew. This Archon status is not part of the Church hierarchy and is purely honorary. See http://www.archons.org/ . An Archon is an honoree by His All Holiness the Ecumenical Patriarch, for his outstanding service to the Church, and a well-known, distinguished, and well-respected leader of the Orthodox Church (at large). It is the sworn oath of the Archon to defend and promote the Orthodox Church faith and tradition. His main concern is to protect and promote the Holy Patriarchate and its mission. He is also concerned with human rights and the well-being and general welfare of the Church. As it is a significant religious position, the faith and dedication of a candidate for the role are extensively reviewed during consideration; the candidate should have demonstrated commitment for the betterment of the Church, Parish-Diocese, Archdiocese and the community as a whole. Gnostic Archons In late antiquity the term archon was used in Gnosticism to refer to several servants of the Gnosticism Demiurge, the "creator god" that stood between the human race and a transcendent God that could only be reached through gnosis. In this context they have the role of the angels and demons of the Old Testament. This article is part of a series on Gnosticism They give their name to the sect called Archontics. The Hebdomad History of Gnosticism Early Gnosticism A characteristic feature of the Gnostic conception of the Syrian-Egyptic Gnosticism universe is the role played in almost all Gnostic Gnosticism in modern times systems by the seven world-creating archons, known Proto-Gnostics as the Hebdomad (ἑβδομάς). There are indeed certain Philo exceptions; for instance, Basilides taught the existence Simon Magus of a "great archon" called Abrasax who presided over Cerinthus 365 archons (Irenaeus, Adversus Haereses, i. 24); in Valentinus the Valentinian system, the Seven are in a manner Basilides replaced by the Aeons. These Seven, then, are in most systems semi-hostile powers, and are reckoned as the Gnostic texts last and lowest emanations of the Godhead; below 3 of 14 03/12/2010 07:27 PM Archon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon#Gnostic_archons them—and frequently considered as derived from Gnostic Gospels them—comes the world of the actually devilish powers. Nag Hammadi library The ancient astronomy taught that above the seven Codex Tchacos planetary spheres was an eighth, the sphere of the Askew Codex fixed stars.[7] In the eighth sphere, these Gnostics Bruce Codex taught, dwelt the mother to whom all these archons Gnosticism and the New Testament owed their origin, Sophia (Wisdom) or Barbelo. In the Related articles language of these sects the word Hebdomad not only Gnosis denotes the seven archons, but is also a name of Neoplatonism and Gnosticism place, denoting the heavenly regions over which the Mandaeism seven archons presided; while Ogdoad denotes the Manichaeism supercelestial regions which lay above their control. Bosnian Church Esoteric Christianity The Ophites accepted the existence of these seven Theosophy archons (Origen, Contra Celsum, vi. 31; a nearly identical list is given in On the Origin of the World):[8] Gnosticism Portal Yaldabaoth, called also Saklas and Samael Saturn. Feminine name: Pronoia (Forethought) Sambathas, "week". Prophets:[9] Moses, Joshua, Amos, Habakkuk. From Hebrew yalda bahut, "Child of Chaos"? The outermost who created the six others, and therefore the chief ruler and Demiurge par excellence. Called "the Lion-faced", leontoeides, similar to the Mithraic Leontocephaline. Iao Jupiter. Feminine name: Lordship. Prophets: Samuel, Nathan, Jonah, Micah. Perhaps from Yahu, Yahweh, but possibly also from the magic cry iao in the Mysteries. Sabaoth Mars. Feminine name: Deity. Prophets: Elijah, Joel, Zechariah. The Old Testament title God of Hosts was thought a proper name, hence Jupiter Sabbas (Yahweh Sabaoth). Astaphanos, or Astaphaios Venus. Feminine name: Sophia (Wisdom). Prophets: Esdras, Zephaniah. Astraphaios is beyond doubt the planet Venus, as there are gnostic gems with a female figure and the legend ASTAPHE, which name is also used in magic spells as the name of a goddess. 4 of 14 03/12/2010 07:27 PM Archon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Archon#Gnostic_archons Adonaios The Sun. Feminine name: Kingship. Prophets: Isaiah, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Daniel. From the Hebrew term for "the Lord", used of God; Adonis of the Syrians representing the Winter sun in the cosmic tragedy of Tammuz. In the Mandaean system Adonaios represents the Sun. Elaios, or Ailoaios, or sometimes Ailoein Mercury. Feminine name: Jealousy. Prophets: Tobias, Haggai. From Elohim, God (El). Horaios The Moon. Feminine name: Wealth. Prophets: Michaiah, Nahum. From Jaroah? or "light"? or Horus? In the hellenized form of Gnosticism either all or some of these names are replaced by personified vices. Authadia (Authades), or Audacity, is the obvious description of Yaldabaoth, the presumptuous Demiurge, who is lion-faced as the Archon Authadia. Of the Archons Kakia, Zelos, Phthonos, Errinnys, Epithymia, the last obviously represents Venus.