Article ID: CBB000831597

Fate, Providence and Astrology in Gnosticism (1): The Apocryphon of John (2007)

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The paper investigates astrological features in the Apocyrphon of John, a fully narrated version of the Scthian Gnostic myth. the model of the physical world emerging from the Apcryphon's revelatory account is a "mannerist" construction in which variouis concentric spheres occupied by twelve zodical constellations, seven planets, thirty-six decans and their numerous attendants, leave no space empty of bodies and no gap to escape the tyranny of fate. The author of this world-model is not a professional astrologer but rather a religous thinker engaged in intertwining astronomical realties with mythological imagery and Platonist theory of causation. Still, astrological concepts and rules employed in the text shoudl not be reduced to the rank of "empty signifiers" devoid of astrnomical relevance - on the contrary, they betray a thorough familiarty with the principles of Hellenistic astrology

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Authors & Contributors
Bram Demulder
David Blair Pass
Jacobus, Helen R.
Comacchi, Maria Vittoria
Denzey Lewis, Nicola
Shank, Michael H.
Concepts
Science and religion
Cosmology
Astrology
Jewish civilization and culture
Platonism
Astronomy
Time Periods
Ancient
Medieval
Renaissance
16th century
Early modern
Modern
Places
Greece
Middle and Near East
Europe
Rome (Italy)
India
Mediterranean region
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