Page "Ogdoad" Paragraph 20

Though this Ogdoad is first in order of evolution, if the Valentinian theory be accepted as true, yet to us who trace the history of the development of that system the lower Ogdoad must clearly be pronounced the first, and the higher only as a subsequent extension of the previously accepted action of an Ogdoad.

Possibly also the Egyptian doctrine of eight primary gods ( see above ) may have contributed to the formation of a theory of which Egypt was the birthplace.

In any case an Ogdoad 7 + 1 would have been inconsistent with a theory an essential part of which was the coupling its characters in pairs, male and female.

Hippolytus of Rome ( Ref.

vi.

20, p. 176 ) connects the system of Valentinus with that of Simon, in which the origin of things is traced to a central first principle, together with six " roots.

" If for the one first principle we substitute a male and female principle, the 6 + 1 of Simon becomes the 6 + 2 of Valentinus.

This very question, however, whether the first principle were to be regarded as single or twofold was one on which the Valentinians themselves were not agreed ; and their differences as to the manner of counting the numbers of the primary Ogdoad confirm what has been said as to the later origin of this doctrine.