mikeh wrote:Good summary, and thanks for highlighting the part about Scholem's "song of the bride" and the gnostic parallels.
I looked again at
http://www.sacred-texts.com/chr/ps/ps145.htm. Different powers have different numbers of demons. One has 27, one has 32, another later on has 49. This chapter is not the end of the Pistis Sophia, it's just the end of a particular narrative. it keeps going. There are also the "36 repentances" of Sophia.
27 = 3^3
32 = 2^5
49 = 7^2
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108 = (2^2)*(3^3)
108/3 = 36 = 6^2
Well, there's no guarantee, that 32 only appears to indicate the binary scheme. Possibly there are other attractive math qualities in mythical texts.
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Seth plots against the king.
Seth began scheming against the great king. He aligned himself with Aso, the queen of Ethiopia, and 72 other conspirators. But nothing could be done while Isis ruled the country, Her authority was unquestionable. Upon Osiris' return, an evil plot was put into motion. Seth secretly acquired the measurements of Osiris and began having a wonderfully decorated box built to fit those measurements. When the box was finished, Seth had a great feast to which he invited Osiris and the 72 conspirators Having absolutely no evil in him, Osiris suspected nothing. When the feasting was done, Seth had the box brought out. He offered it as a gift to anyone whom the box fit. One at a time they tried to fit into the box until it was Osiris' turn. He layed in the box suspecting nothing. The conspirators slammed the lid, nailed it closed, and poured molten lead in the seam to seal his fate. They threw the great chest into the Nile river. Osiris was never seen again, walking in the land of the living.
http://www.egyptartsite.com/osi.html
Other source:
Nut had four children with Geb. Osiris and his wife Isis, along with Seth and his wife Nephthys. The circumstances of their births is described in the The Story of Re. They were born on the five epagomenal days of the year (in Egyptian, "the five days over the year"). Every year these days were celebrated throughout Egypt.
Osiris, this day was considered unlucky
Horus the Elder, this day was described as either lucky or unlucky
Seth, considered an unlucky day
Isis, lucky day, called "a beautiful festival of heaven and earth."
Nephthys, unlucky day
http://www.egyptianmyths.net/nut.htm
I seems, that these pieces belong together and to the Egyptian calendar. 360 days (= 12x30) + 5 unlucky days = 365 days.
"72 conspirators" might refer to 5 days each ... 5x72 = 360, which somehow presents a state, in which the 36 dekans (10-days periods) are broken in two opposing pieces of 5 days each.
In this context the Bahir-94 passage jumps in my mind, which relates the 32 to other 32 and then to higher 8, which finally result in the number "72".
The queen of Ethiopia ... Moses was chosen to become a military commander in an Ethiopian problem (in side episodes of his myth, also reported by Flavius Josephus and Artapanus. Moses marries the Ethiopian queen, and solves the conflict.
German study ...
https://books.google.de/books?id=bIueZW ... en&f=false
... and also in the biography of Artapanus (English)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artapanus_of_Alexandria
Moses is related by Artapanus to the invention of 36 nomes ...
According to Artapanus, Abraham taught an Egyptian pharaoh the science of astrology, while Moses bestowed many “useful benefits on mankind” by inventing boats, Egyptian weapons, and philosophy. (Eusebius, PrEv 9.27.4) He also recounts that the Greeks called Moses Musaeus and that he taught Orpheus, who was widely considered to be the father of Greek culture.[2] Similarly, Artapanus credits Moses with the division of Egypt into 36 nomes as well as the successful conquest of Ethiopia, two accomplishments traditionally attributed to the Egyptian folk hero Sesostris.[3] Throughout the narrative Artapanus insists that the public loved these Jewish figures for their impressive innovations and achievements. In fact, he remarks that the Ethiopians went so far as to circumcise themselves out of admiration for Moses.[1] While some of Artapanus’ history clearly references accounts in Genesis and Exodus, such as his description of the plagues, most of his story is completely fabricated.
One of the most striking aspects of Artapanus' works is the ease with which he syncretizes Jewish and Egyptian culture and religion. Artapanus also writes that Moses is responsible for appointing "for each of the [36] nomes the god to be worshipped, and that they should be cats and dogs and ibises."
Abraham taught the Egyptians astrology. That's somehow close to SY ideas. Artapanus "lived in Alexandria, during the later half of the 3rd or 2nd century BCE".
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The page ...
http://www.cais-soas.com/CAIS/Religions ... 4/pt12.htm
... based on this institution ...
The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS)
The First and Most Comprehensive, Informative and Scholarly Website Dedicated to Ancient Iran and Iranian Civilization.
http://www.cais-soas.com/index.htm
I'm not sure, if this is common "history" or "politic with intention". Nonetheless it offers a rather extended program about Persian history. With rather critical comments on the Jewish development occasionally.
Added later: Only one or two of the Gnostic sects reviewed by Irenaeus actually called themselves "gnostic".
Yes, of course. It's a stormy field with a lot of experiments.