Chapter XVII.—The theory of the Marcosians, that created things were made
after the image of things invisible.
1. I wish also to explain to thee their theory as to the way in which the creation itself
was formed through the mother by the Demiurge (as it were without his knowledge), after
the image of things invisible. They maintain, then, that first of all the four elements, fire,
water, earth, and air, were produced after the image of the primary Tetrad above, and that
then, we add their operations, viz., heat, cold, dryness, and humidity, an exact likeness of
the Ogdoad is presented. They next reckon up ten powers in the following manner:—There
are seven globular bodies, which they also call heavens; then that globular body which con-
tains these, which also they name the eighth heaven; and, in addition to these, the sun and
moon. These, being ten in number, they declare to be types of the invisible Decad, which
proceeded from Logos and Zoe. As to the Duodecad, it is indicated by the zodiacal circle,
as it is called; for they affirm that the twelve signs do most manifestly shadow forth the
Duodecad, the daughter of Anthropos and Ecclesia. And since the highest heaven, beating
upon the very sphere [of the seventh heaven], has been linked with the most rapid precession
of the whole system, as a check, and balancing that system with its own gravity, so that it
completes the cycle from sign to sign in thirty years,—they say that this is an image of
Horus, encircling their thirty-named mother.229 And then, again, as the moon travels
through her allotted space of heaven in thirty days, they hold, that by these days she expresses
the number of the thirty Æons. The sun also, who runs through his orbit in twelve months,
and then returns to the same point in the circle, makes the Duodecad manifest by these
twelve months; and the days, as being measured by twelve hours, are a type of the invisible
Duodecad. Moreover, they declare that the hour, which is the twelfth part of the day, is
composed230 of thirty parts, in order to set forth the image of the Triacontad. Also the cir-
cumference of the zodiacal circle itself contains three hundred and sixty degrees (for each
of its signs comprises thirty); and thus also they affirm, that by means of this circle an image
is preserved of that connection which exists between the twelve and the thirty. Still further,
asserting that the earth is divided into twelve zones, and that in each zone it receives power
from the heavens, according to the perpendicular [position of the sun above it], bringing
forth productions corresponding to that power which sends down its influence upon it,
they maintain that this is a most evident type of the Duodecad and its offspring.
2. In addition to these things, they declare that the Demiurge, desiring to imitate the
infinitude, and eternity, and immensity, and freedom from all measurement by time of the
Ogdoad above, but, as he was the fruit of defect, being unable to express its permanence
229 Such is the translation which Harvey, following the text preserved by Hippolytus, gives of the above in-
tricate and obscure sentence.
230 Literally, “is adorned with.”
Chapter XVII.—The theory of the Marcosians, that created things were made after the image of things invisible.
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Chapter XVII.—The theory of the Marcosians, that created things were made…