Manichaeism

Manichaeism (; in ; ) was a major world religion founded in the third century CE by the Parthian Iranian prophet Mani (216–274) in the Sasanian Empire. It taught an elaborate dualistic cosmology describing the struggle between a good spiritual world of light, and an evil material world of darkness. Through an ongoing process in human history, light is gradually removed from the world of matter and returned to the world of the divine.

3rd century prophet and founder of Manichaeism

abjad-based writing system associated with the spread of Manichaean religion

fourth-century Manichaean bishop

thumb|The Sons of God Saw the Daughters of Men That They Were Fair, sculpture by Daniel Chester French, c. 1923 Samyaza ( Šamməḥăzay; Šəmīʿāzāʾ; ; , '), also Shamhazai, Aza or Ouza''', is a fallen angel of apocryphal Abrahamic traditions and Manichaeism as the leader of the Watchers.

religious symbol

Late 3rd-century first Lakhmid king

The Athinganoi (, singular Athinganos, , Atsinganoi) were a Manichaean sect and practiced some of the Jewish customs (which can be regarded as a form of Judaizing) who lived in Phrygia and Lycaonia but were neither Hebrews nor gentiles. They kept the Sabbath but were not circumcised. They were shomer negiah.

synod held between 340 and 357

thumb|Book frontispiece|Frontispiece of the Acta Archelai, [[Charles H. Beeson edition, 1906]]

Jesus considered to be one of the primary prophets and a redeeming and suffering cosmic figure in Manichaeism

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eternal divine manifestation of good in Manichaeism