8o6 GLOSSARYEchamoth A form of wisdom in the Gospel of Philip, from Hebrew hokhmah. Achamoth
is lower wisdom in Valentinian texts. See SOPHIA.
Echmoth "Little wisdom" in the Gospel of Philip, from the Hebrew and Aramaic for "like
death." See SOPHIA.
Edem Or Eden, name of the divine mother in the Book of Baruch. The name derives from
the Hebrew for "earth" {edem) or the place of paradise (garden of "Eden," perhaps gar-
den of "delight"); in the Septuagint the garden of Eden is referred to as edem in Greek.
Eight Ogdoad, the realm of eight aeons. The eighth can also refer to the realm of the fixed
stars, beyond the seven planetary spheres, hence the realm of the demiurge or of wis-
dom, as in the Discourse on the Eighth and Ninth and elsewhere. Sometimes the eighth
sphere is thought to be the abode of the ruler of the cosmos; sometimes it is considered
a higher level for spiritual advancement and perfection.
El Eloah, Elohim (plural ending), etc., Hebrew for "god." The root is used to form names
of powers of this world in gnostic texts, for example Eloaios or Poimael.
Elect Common epithet of those chosen by god, including gnostics. In Manichaeism the
elect are the strict adherents to Manichaean regulations and the leaders of the
Manichaean church. They may be compared to the perfect in Cathar thought (see
PERFECT).
Eleleth One of the luminaries in gnostic thought. Eleleth is called a great angel in the Re-
ality of the Rulers and plays a revelatory role in that text.
Elements The four traditional elements in Greco-Roman thought are earth, water, air, and
fire. Spirit replaces fire in the Book of Thomas, probably because of the association of
fire with ignorance and passion. According to Manichaean thought there are five ele-
ments in the kingdom of light (air, wind, light, water, and fire—no earth, of course).
Eleusis Sacred site near Athens, at which the Eleusinian mysteries were celebrated. The
mysteries featured the grain mother Demeter and her daughter Kore, or Persephone.
Referred to in the Naassene Sermon.
Elkesai Elchasai, "hidden power," designating the hidden power of god. Elkesai is de-
scribed as the prophet and founder of the Elkesaites, a Jewish-Christian baptizing
group to which Mani's father belonged and in which Mani was baptized. Referred to in
On the Origin of His Body.
Eloai Son of Yaldabaoth in On the Origin of the World. See EL.
Elohim Hebrew word for "god." Elohim is the divine father in the Book of Baruch; Elohim
is the child of Eve and the demiurge in some Sethian texts.
Emmacha Seth Name of heavenly Seth in Sethian texts.
Enoch Character in Genesis who is said to have walked with god and to have been taken
away, mysteriously, by god. Several revelatory books are attributed to Enoch on the
basis of his remarkable experience with god. Referred to in the Gospel of the Great Sup-
per and elsewhere.
Eros God of love and lover of Psyche in Greek mythology. Referred to in On the Origin of
the World.
Error In the Valentinian Gospel of Truth, error (female in gender) is personified and plays
roles usually assigned to wisdom and the demiurge in gnostic texts.
Esthesis-Ouch-Epi-Ptoe Mother of the demons in the Secret Book of John. The name is
a philosophical saying from Greek and seems to mean "sense perception is not in an