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The [[Latin]] word '''æon''' means ''forever''.  It is derived from the [[Greek language|Greek]] word αίών.

==Temporal æon==

This means the same thing as the word [[eon]]: an eternal frame of time, [[eternity]].

Quantitatively, eon refers to a period of time of 1,000,000,000 years. However, [[geology|geologists]] refer to the period in which [[animal]]s evolved into abundance as the [[Phanerozoic]] Eon, which ''only'' lasts 545 million years, to the present day.

==Platonic æons==

The word æon was used by [[Plato]] to denote the eternal world of ideas, which he conceived was "behind" the perceived world, as demonstrated in his famous [[Plato%27s_allegory_of_the_cave|cave-allegory]].

==Gnostic æons==

In many [[Gnosticism|Gnostic]] systems, the various [[emanationism|emanations]] of the [[God]], who is also known by such names as '''the One''', the [[Monad (Gnosticism)|Monad]], Aiwn teleos (The Perfect Æon), Bythos, Proarkh (Before the Beginning), H'Arkh (The Beginning), are called '''æons'''. This first being is also an æon and has an inner being within itself, known as Ennoea (Thought), Charis (Grace), or Sige (Silence). The split perfect being conceives the second æon, Nus (Mind), within itself. Along with the male Nus comes the female æon Veritas (Truth)

The æons often came in male/female pairs called ''syzygies'', and were frequently numerous (20-30). Two of the most commonly listed æons were [[Jesus]] and [[Sophia]]. The æons constitute the ''[[pleroma]]'', the "region of light". The lowest regions of the pleroma are closest to the darkness; i.e. the physical world.

When an æon named ''Sophia'' emanates without her partner æon, the result is the ''[[Demiurge]]'' (or '''Ialdaboth'''), a creature that should never have come into existence. This creature does not belong to the pleroma, and the One emanates two savior æons, ''[[Christ]]'' and ''the [[Holy Spirit]]'' to save man from the Demiurge. Christ then took the form of the man, ''Jesus'', in order to be able to teach man how to achieve [[gnosis]]; i.e. return to the pleroma.

===Valentinian æons===

According to [[Tertullian]]'s ''Against the Valentinians'' (Latin: ''Adversus Valentinianos'') chapter VII and VIII (and we only know the details of this system from its opponents), the Gnostic [[Valentinius]] had 30 different æons which emanate each other in sequence. The first 8 of these (corresponding to generations one through four below) is referred to as the ''Ogdoad''.

*First generation
**''Bythos'' (the One) and ''Sige'' (Silence, Charis, Ennoea etc)
*Second generation
**''Nous'' (Nus, Mind) and ''Aletheia'' (Veritas, Truth)
*Third generation, emanated from Nous and Aletheia
**''Sermo'' (the Word) and ''Vita'' (the Life)
*Fourth generation, emanated from Sermo and Vita
**''Anthropos'' (Homo, Man) and ''Ecclesia'' (Church)
*Fifth generation
**Emanated from Sermo and Vita:
***''Bythios'' (Profound) and ''Mixis'' (Mixture) 
***''Ageratos'' (Never old) and ''Henosis'' (Union)
***''Autophyes'' (Essential nature) and ''Hedone'' (Pleasure)
***''Acinetos'' (Immovable) and ''Syncrasis'' (Commixture)
***''Monogenes'' (Only-begotten) and ''Macaria'' (Happiness)
**Emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia
***''Paracletus'' (Comforter) and ''Pistis'' (Faith)
***''Patricas'' (Paternal) and ''Elpis'' (Hope)
***''Metricos'' (Maternal) and ''Agape'' (Love)
***''Ainos'' (Praise) and ''Synesis'' (Intelligence)
***''Ecclesiasticus'' (Son of Ecclesia) and ''Macariotes'' (Blessedness)
***''Theletus'' (Perfect) and ''Sophia'' (Wisdom)

===Ptolemaic and colorbasal æons===

According to [[Irenaeus|St. Irenaeus]] ''Against heresies'' (Latin: ''Adversus Haereses'') also known as ''The Detection and Overthrow of Falsely So-Called Gnosis'' book 1, chapter 12, the followers of the [[Gnosticism|Gnostics]] [[Ptolemy (Gnostic)|Ptolemy]] and [[Colorbasus]] had æons which differ from those of [[Valentinius]]. Logos is created when Anthropos learn to speak. The first four are called the ''Tetrad'' and the eight are called the ''Ogdoad''.

*First generation
**''Bythos'' (the One) and ''Sige'' (Silence, Charis, Ennoea etc)
*Second generation (conceived by the One):
**''Ennoae'' (Thought) and ''Thelesis'' (Will)
*Third generation, emanated from Ennoae and Thelesis:
**''Nous'' (or ''Monogenes'') and ''Aletheia''
*Fourth generation, emanated from Nous and Aletheia:
**''Anthropos'' (Homo, Man) and ''Ecclesia'' (Church)
*Fifth generation, emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia:
**''Logos'' and ''Zoe''
*Sixth generation:
**Emanated from Logos and Zoe:
***''Bythius'' and ''Mixis''
***''Ageratos'' and ''Henosis''
***''Autophyes'' and ''Hedone''
***''Acinetos'' and ''Syncrasis''
***''Monogenes'' and ''Macaria''
**Emanated from Anthropos and Ecclesia:
***''Paracletus'' and ''Pistis''
***''Patricos'' and ''Elpis''
***''Metricos'' and ''Agape''
***''Ainos'' and ''Synesis''
***''Ecclesiasticus'' and ''Macariotes''
***''Theletos'' and ''Sophia''

The order of Anthropos and Ecclesia versus Logos and Zoe are somewhat debated, different sources give different accounts. Logos and Zoe are unique to this system as compared to the previous and may be an evolved version of the first, totalling 32 æons, but it is not clear if the first two were actually regarded æons.

==See also==
*[[Plato]]
*[[Gnosticism]]

==External links==
*[http://www.gnosis.org/library/ter_val.htm Tertullian;s account against the Valentinians] is the source text for much of what we know about the Æons.
*[http://www.gmu.edu/departments/fld/CLASSICS/tertullian.valentinianos.html Corresponding text in original Latin]
*[http://www.gnosis.org/library/advh1.htm Irenaeus: Against heresies]

[[de:Äon]]

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In the [[computer role-playing game|role-playing]] [[video game]] ''[[Final Fantasy X]]'', an '''aeon''' is a creature that can be [[summoning|summoned]] by certain [[player character]]s and enemies. Aeons roughly equate to Guardian Forces (GFs) from earlier [[Final Fantasy]] games.

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In the anime serie [[Chrno Crusade]], Aeon is the name of the devil.

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AEON is also a [[Japan]]ese company chain (the [[Asia]]n department store giant, [[Jusco]], is AEON's subsidary).

[[Category:Gnostic deities]]
[[Category:Gnosticism]]
[[Category:Final Fantasy X]]