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The Latin word ''aeon'', also spelled '''''eon''''' or '''''æon''''', means "forever" or "for Eternity ". It is derived from the Greek word αίών (''aion''), which at one point meant "a period of existence" or "life". In Geology , the word Eon quantitatively refers to a period of time of 1,000,000,000 years. However, geologists refer to the period in which Animal s evolved into abundance as the Phanerozoic Eon, which has only lasted 545 million years, to the present day. IN PHILOSOPHY AND MYSTICISM Occultists sometimes speak of a "magical Aeon" that may last for far less time, perhaps as little as 2,000 years. See Thelema . Plato used the word ''aeon'' to denote the eternal world of ideas, which he conceived was "behind" the perceived world, as demonstrated in his famous Allegory Of The Cave . In Gnosticism In many Gnostic systems, the various Emanations of God , who is also known by such names as the One, the Monad , Aion teleos (The Perfect Aeon), Bythos (Depth or profundity, Greek Βυθός), Proarkhe (Before the Beginning, Greek πρόαρχή), he Arkhe (The Beginning, Greek ή αρχή), are called '''aeons'''. This first being is also an æon and has an inner being within itself, known as Ennoea (Thought), Charis (Grace), or Sige (Greek Σιγη, Silence). The split perfect being conceives the second aeon, Caen (Power), within itself. Along with the male Caen comes the female æon Akhana (Truth, Love). Aeons bear a number of similarities to Christian-Judeo angels, including their roles as servants and emanations of God, and their existence as beings of light. In fact, certain Gnostic Angels, such as Armozel, also happen to be Aeons. The aeons 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 aeons constitute the '' Pleroma '', the "region of light." The lowest regions of the pleroma are closest to the darkness — that is, the physical world. When an æon named ''Sophia'' emanates without her partner aeon, the result is the '' Demiurge '', or half-creator (Occasionally referred to as Ialdaboth in Gnostic texts), 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 humanity from the Demiurge. Christ then took the form of the human ''Jesus'', in order to be able to teach humanity how to achieve Gnosis ; that is, return to the pleroma. The Gospel Of Judas , recently found and then purchased/held by the National Geographic Society , and translated, also mentions the aeons and speaks of Jesus' teachings of them. The Lost Gospel - online feature from National Geographic, including Coptic text, English translation, and photos Valentinus According to had 30 different aeons that emanate each other in sequence. The first eight of these aeons (corresponding to generations one through four below) is referred to as the ''Ogdoad.''
Ptolemy and Colorbasus According to Ptolemy and Colorbasus had aeons that differ from those of Valentinius . Logos is created when Anthropos learns to speak. The first four are called the ''Tetrad'' and the eight are called the ''Ogdoad.''
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 34 æons, but it is not clear if the first two were actually regarded æons. IN POPULAR CULTURE The PlayStation 2 Video Game '' Final Fantasy X '' featured Magical Creatures Called Aeons , which the player could summon in battle using the character Yuna . SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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