(Gk.). An age or the duration of the world, or of the universe; an immeasurable period of time; eternity. In some contexts the word “aeon” can signify the personification of an age; in Platonic Philosophy it means a power existing in eternity. In GNOSTICISM, it is an emanation from and manifestation of God.

Helena P. BLAVATSKY identifies the Aeons with the DHYANI-CHOHANS and the Archangels: “The Aeons (Stellar Spirits) — emanated from the Unknown of the Gnostics, and identical with the Dhyani-Chohans of the Esoteric Doctrine — and their Pleroma [the synthesis or entirety of all the spiritual entities], having been transformed into Archangels and the ‘Spirits of the Presence’ by the Greek and Latin Churches . . .” (CW XIV:162).

The Gnostics (such as Cerinthus and Basilides) held that the Divine Power from an Aeon called “Christos,” descended upon Jesus when he was baptized, and before the Passion and resurrection the spirit of Christ left Jesus (DP, 464).

V.H.C.

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