THE EGYPTIAN FOUNDATIONS OF GNOSTIC THOUGHT

text describes a “darkness, tending downwards”, appearing as a snake and changing
into “something moist”. 31
We are now well into the Coptic era (100 B.C.E. onwards) and it is worth
noting at the outset that the translation of NOYN given by Crum is “abyss of hell.
Depth of earth, sea”. 32
Crum’s translation, however, is based more upon later
Christian-Coptic writings. In Egyptian Gnostic texts NOYN may be an abyss, but it is
one that generates every sort of divinity in this text, which is Nun’s traditional role.
The Nag Hammadi Gnostic text On the Origin of the World, which dates somewhere
in 100-400 C.E., does not describe a completely demonised Nun:
Now the eternal realm (aeon) of truth has no shadow outside it, for the limitless
light is everywhere within it. But its exterior is shadow, which has been called
by the name “Darkness” From it there appeared a force presiding over the
darkness. And the forces that came into being subsequent to them called the
shadow “the Limitless Chaos”. From it, every kind of divinity sprouted up
[together] with the entire place, [so that] also, [shadow] is posterior to the first
product. It was in the Abyss [NOYN] that [it] (shadow) appeared, out of Pistis.
(98.23-99.3) 33
And you [the ignorant demiurge Samael] will descend to your mother the Abyss
[NOYN] along with those that belong to you. (103.22) 34
Then when Sabaoth [son of the demiurge] was illumined, he received great
authority against all the forces of Chaos. Since that day he has been called
“Lord of the Forces”. (104.4) 35
He hated his father, the Darkness [KAKE], and his mother the Abyss [NOYN],
and loathed his sister, the thought of the prime parent, which moved to and fro
upon the waters. (104.10-13) 36
...they will fall into the Abyss [NOYN], and the Abyss will be overturned.
(126.33)
And the deficiency will be plucked out by the root [NOYNE] (and thrown)
down into the darkness [KAKE]. And the light will withdraw up to its root
[NOYNE]. (127.4) 37
Zostrianos depicts the four aeons of Kalyptos/Nun, describing them, in terms
of the Heh gods, as existing in a synchronic array, as opposed to being diachronically
prioritised:
31
See Foerster, Gnosis: A Selection of Gnostic Texts, vol. 1, 29; also Iverson, Egyptian and
Hermetic Doctrine, 30
32
Coptic Dictionary (1939; reprint, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1979), 226b.
33
Coptic transcription from NHS, vol XXI, 30.
34
Ibid., 40.
35
Ibid., 42.
36
Ibid., 42.
37
Ibid., 90.