arconti

Arconti is a term that appears in some esoteric and Gnostic traditions, particularly those that emerged in the early centuries of the Common Era. It is generally understood to refer to a group of cosmic rulers or powers that are seen as influencing or controlling the material world. The precise nature and number of arconti vary significantly between different Gnostic texts and schools of thought.

In many Gnostic systems, the arconti are depicted as creations of a lesser, often ignorant or malevolent deity, known as the Demiurge. This Demiurge is typically believed to have fashioned the physical universe and its inhabitants, trapping divine sparks of spirit within material bodies. The arconti are then understood to be the agents of the Demiurge, maintaining the illusion of the material world and preventing souls from achieving spiritual liberation and returning to the true, higher God.

These rulers are sometimes associated with the planets or stars, and their influence is thought to shape human destiny and affairs. They are often portrayed as possessing a limited or flawed understanding of the cosmos, driven by desire or ignorance rather than true divine wisdom. Salvation, in these Gnostic frameworks, often involves recognizing the true nature of the arconti and transcending their influence through gnosis, or direct spiritual knowledge. The concept of arconti serves as a key element in understanding the dualistic cosmology and soteriology of many Gnostic teachings.