Mandaean cosmologyMandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism. Mandaean cosmology is strongly influenced by Jewish, Babylonian, Persian, Egyptian, Greek, Manichaean and other Near Eastern religions and philosophies. The three major Emanations or "Lives" (Hayyi) in Mandaeism are: The Second Life: Yushamin, the primal uthra The Third Life: Abatur, the weigher of souls, and also the father of the uthri (plural of uthra) The Fourth Life: Ptahil, the creator of the material world The Second Life, Third Life, and Fourth Life are emanations of the First Life, Hayyi Rabbi (the Supreme God).
Marais de Mésopotamiethumb|Évolution des marais de Mésopotamie entre 2000 et 2009. (cliché Nasa). thumb|Navigation traditionnelle des Arabes des marais de Mésopotamie. Les marais de Mésopotamie forment une zone humide située dans le sud de l'Irak et en partie dans le sud-ouest de l'Iran. Les marais de Mésopotamie font partie intégrante des marais salé alluvial du Tigre et de l'Euphrate et sont principalement composés de trois zones distinctes, le marais central, le marais d'Hawizeh et le marais al-Hammar dans lequel s'étend le lac salé d'Al-hammar.
ArchonticsThe Archontics, or Archontici, were a Gnostic sect that existed in Palestine, Syria and Armenia, who arose towards the mid 4th century CE. They were thus called from the Greek word ἄρχοντες, "principalities", or "rulers", by reason that they held the world to have been created and ruled by malevolent Archons. Epiphanius of Salamis seems to be the earliest Christian writer who speaks of this sect. He relates that a young priest in Palestine named Peter had been charged with heresy, deposed from the office of the priesthood and expelled by Bishop Aëtius.
