GLOSSARY 815
Proteos Greek god, connected to Poseidon and the sea, who could foretell the future and
change his shape. He spent much of his time around the island of Pharos near Alexan-
dria, Egypt. Referred to in the Naassene Sermon.
Psyche Greek for "soul," sometimes the animate soul that brings breath and physical life,
sometimes the immortal soul within people (see PNEUMA). Personified as a young
woman loved by Eros in Greek mythology and the Exegesis on the Soul.
Psychic Psychical person, person of animating soul (Greek psyche). Middle of three divi-
sions of humanity, especially in Valentinian texts. In Christian gnostic traditions these
are ordinary Christians. See also HYLIC, PNEUMATIC.
Ptahil Demiurge in Mandaean thought. The name Ptahil may derive from the name of
Ptah, the Egyptian patron of artisans and creator god of Memphis, and the Semitic suf-
fix -il (in Hebrew, -el). Jonas, Gnostic Religion, 98, connects this Egyptian basis for the
name of the Mandaean demiurge with the broader Mandaean interest in Egypt as sym-
bolic of the material world (as also in the Song of the Pearl). The name Ptahil may also
mean "El who creates"; see Kurt Rudolph, "Mandean Sources," in Foerster, ed., Gnosis,
2.146. Sometimes called Ptahil-Uthra.
Q From Quelle, German for "source." Collection of sayings of Jesus used in the composi-
tion of the Gospels of Matthew and Luke.
Qur'an Al-Qur'an, "the recitation," the sacred book of Islam. Muslims believe that the
Qur'an was revealed to prophet Muhammad in Arabic by Allah through the angel
Gabriel. It consists of 114 suras and is cited extensively in the Mother of Books.
Rebouel Woman who is beheaded, in the Paraphrase of Shem. Perhaps to be interpreted
allegorically as separation from the emerging orthodox church and its baptismal prac-
tices. See Roberge, La Paraphrase de Sem, 90.
Redemption Or ransom; referred to as one of five sacraments in the Gospel of Philip and
mentioned elsewhere. According to heresiologists, the ceremony of redemption in-
volves the use of oil and water in a ritual for the dead to aid them in their transition to
the realm of the divine. Such ceremonies are also known from the Mandaeans.
Rest Greek anapausis. Divine rest or repose, the blessed state of those who are at peace. In
gnostic thought rest is reserved for people who attain gnosis. In the Secret Book of John
it is said that the transcendent One is in silence and at rest.
Rhea Divine wife of Kronos in Greek mythology. Referred to in the Naassene Sermon.
Right In Valentinian thought, those of the right are psychical people, as opposed to those
of the left, who are material people. In the Gospel of Truth, reference is made to the
Roman system of counting on the fingers of the left hand for numbers 1-99 and switch-
ing to the right hand at 100. Right and left are also referred to in the Gospel of Philip.
In general right was considered fortunate and left unfortunate in ancient thought. In
Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus is said to separate the sheep from the goats (that is, the right-
eous from the unrighteous) by putting the sheep on the right and the goats on the left.
Rubbing Image used to refer to sexual intercourse in the Paraphrase of Shem.
Ruha Spirit of wisdom who falls and gives birth to her son, the lord of darkness. Together
they create the powers of this world. Also known as Ruha dQudsha, "holy spirit," as in
Christian thought, though she is anything but holy. See SOPHIA.
Sabaoth Son of Yaldabaoth and a prominent power of this world in gnostic texts. The
name is from the Hebrew for "hosts" or "armies," as in "lord of hosts."