History of Gnosticism from its pre-Christian roots through its developed doctrines concerning cosmogony, the Sophia-myth, soteriology, and eschatology. Includes information on rites, schools, and literature.
A religious doctrine named after Valentinius, a Roman theologian who lived circa 2nd century, and defied Christian orthodoxy, in order to follow Gnosticism.
see also: World history · Ancient maritime history · Protohistory · Axial Age ... Although the ending date of ancient history is disputed, Western scholars use ...