8i6 GLOSSARYSabbath Shabbat, the seventh day of the week and a day of rest in the Jewish calendar. Re-
ferred to as such in a variety of texts. The root is also used to form names of powers of
this world in gnostic texts, for example, Sabbataios and Sambathas.
Sakla Or Saklas, demiurge or creator of this world, especially in Sethian texts. In
Manichaean texts Sakla is a demonic creator of the material world, along with Nebroel,
on behalf of the prince of darkness. The name Sakla means "fool" in Aramaic. Also
called Samael, Yaldabaoth.
Salman A follower of Ali, and the spiritual regent of god the high king in the Mother of
Books. Salman shows similarities to wisdom and the heavenly human in gnostic texts.
As in Valentinian texts, where there is a distinction between higher wisdom (Sophia)
and lower wisdom (Achamoth), and as in many gnostic texts, where there is a distinc-
tion between the heavenly human and the earthly human, the Mother of Books distin-
guishes between great Salman and lesser Salman. Salman is described as a being of light
and the word of god.
Samael Demiurge or creator of this world, especially in Sethian texts. The name means
"blind god" in Aramaic. Also called Sakla, Yaldabaoth.
Samsara Cycle of incarnation and reincarnation in Buddhism and other religions, referred
to in the Great Song to Mani.
Sangha Buddhist religious community, referred to in the Great Song to Mani.
Saphaia Power invoked in the Paraphrase of Shem. Perhaps see SOPHIA.
Saphaina Power invoked in the Paraphrase of Shem. Perhaps see SOPHIA.
Satanas Satan, in Cathar thought. In Cathar texts Satanas is also the demiurge and creator
god.
Serpent Mythical deceiver in paradise according to the story of the fall in Genesis, derived
from earlier serpent stories (for example, the story of Utnapishtim, the Babylonian
hero of the great flood, in the epic of Gilgamesh). In gnostic texts the place of the ser-
pent in the story maybe reinterpreted and the serpent itself rehabilitated, when the ser-
pent, as dispenser of gnosis, is considered an instructor in knowledge. The names
Ophites and Naassenes, both derived from words for serpent or snake, are used to refer
to gnostic groups.
Sesengenbarpharanges Word or name of power known from magical texts. Referred to
in the Baptismal Ceremony of the Gospel of the Egyptians, where Sesengenbarpha-
ranges is described as a purifier. The word or name probably derives from Aramaic
(Sesengen, son of [bar-] Pharanges); John G. Gager, Curse Tablets and Binding Spells,
269, suggests a connection with a drug from a fig tree in "the Baaras ravine" (Greek
pharangos [genitive]).
Seth Son of Adam and Eve after the death of Abel and the banishment of Cain. In Genesis,
in the Septuagint, Seth is called "another seed." The Sethian gnostics describe them-
selves as the seed or offspring of Seth. As a heavenly being, Seth is also described as the
son of Geradamas in the divine pleroma. See also SITIL.
Seven Hebdomad. Seven is the ancient number of completeness, commonly used to indi-
cate what is full and complete. Seven indicates the number of days in a week, the num-
ber of planetary spheres (sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn) in ancient
astronomy, and so the number of kings stationed over the spheres of heaven in the