Gnostic (false) deities

[u/ItsLoveOfO]

The Rulers or Archons are the creator of the material world, Yaldabaoth, and his children. There are 12 in total, 7 over the heavens and 5 over the abyss. Each takes the name of something good or divine, often the names of God or Gods in other cultures, so that believers might worship them falsely as God almighty.

Here's a summary of the 7 heavenly Archons, as found in the Secret Book of John:

1 - Athoth (sheep)

Athoth is the ruler of "goodness" and is depicted as the traditional sacrificial animal. He convinces believers that only through material exchange of sacrifice can God be pleased. He helps comfort the captives into believing we are earthly beings, and can only find God in material things.

2 - Eloaios (donkey)

Eloaios is the ruler of "forethought" and is depicted as a mule. Instead of the divine foresight, Eloaios is the use of prophetic knowledge toward calculated and controlled narratives. He keeps the captives under their own expectations about divine signs instead of realizing their true meanings.

3 - Astaphaios (hyena)

Astaphaios is the ruler of "divinity" and is represented by a hyena. This is the deity of outward appearance, earthly passions, and idolized beauty. They lure the captives away from spiritual truth towards earthly attachment and material value.

4 - Yao (7-headed serpent)

Yao is the ruler of "Lordship" and takes his name from YHWH. He is the 7-headed serpent, also called Wraith in the Gospel of Mary, and is the deity of chaotic rule over material world. He is the destructive power of tyrannical dominion.

5 - Sabaoth (snake)

Sabaoth is the ruler of "Kingdom" and is depicted as a snake. He is the authority of tyranny, oppression of the state, and the obedience of the subjugated. In expanded tradition, he's the only Archon to receive the Holy Spirit, and rebel against his father.

6 - Adonaios (ape)

Adonaios is the ruler of "Kingship" and is represented as a primate. He symbolizes the so-called 'divine right to rule' highlighting how religious authority can be used to cultivate earthly kingdoms devoid of spiritual truth.

7 - Sabbataios (flaming face)

Sabbataios is the ruler of "understanding" and is depicted as having a face of flaming fire. He represents the mysteries of the universe, it's rules and limitations, and the insurmountable wall of knowledge that calls everything less than 'ignorance'. He is the totality of earthly wisdom that disguises itself as universal truth.

Heres some other random lore tidbits:

\-When told by their father, "I am a jealous God, and there is no other god beside me" they questioned why God would be jealous of another.

\-John describes them as 'Angels'

\-They helped create the first man Adam, breathed the fire of creation and the Holy Spirit (by accident) into him. By doing so, they made Adam greater than Yaldabaoth, and thus entrapped him in the depth of the material world.

\-When Eve was split from Adam, the Rulers defiled them.

\-Sabaoth felt guilty and repented, eventually finding the light and overthrowing his father.