Akouas (or Acuas) was an important figure in early
Manichaeism
Manichaeism (;
in New Persian ; ) is a former major religionR. van den Broek, Wouter J. Hanegraaff ''Gnosis and Hermeticism from Antiquity to Modern Times''SUNY Press, 1998 p. 37 founded in the 3rd century AD by the Parthian Empire, Parthian ...
. He has been identified with another Manichaean figure from Iranian sources named Mar Zaku.
Identity
Akouas was an early disciple of
Mani, and was sent by him to preach in the Western
Sassanid Empire.
Epiphanius of Salamis
Epiphanius of Salamis ( grc-gre, Ἐπιφάνιος; c. 310–320 – 403) was the bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, at the end of the 4th century. He is considered a saint and a Church Father by both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He g ...
reported that Akouas was a military veteran ("veteranus"), leading
Samuel N. C. Lieu to suggest he may have been a
Roman
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
prisoner of war who discovered Manichaeism during his "enforced stay" in the Sassanid Empire.
[ Lieu, Samuel N.C. ''Manichaeism in the Later Roman Empire and Medieval China: a Historical Survey.'' Pages 68-69. Manchester University Press, 1985.]
Significance
Epiphanius of Salamis
Epiphanius of Salamis ( grc-gre, Ἐπιφάνιος; c. 310–320 – 403) was the bishop of Salamis, Cyprus, at the end of the 4th century. He is considered a saint and a Church Father by both the Eastern Orthodox and Catholic Churches. He g ...
stated that Akouas was the first to bring Manichaeism to his hometown of
Eleutheropolis
Eleutheropolis (Greek, Ἐλευθερόπολις, "Free City"; ar, إليوثيروبوليس; in Hebrew, בית גוברין, Beit Gubrin) was a Roman and Byzantine city in Syria Palaestina, some 53 km southwest of Jerusalem. After the Mu ...
in
Palestine. He stated that Manichaeans there were known as "Akouanitans" (or "Acuanites") due to his influence.
later described Manichaeans as being referred to as "Aconites."
[Chase, Frederic H. (ed.) ''Saint John of Damascus: Writings''. Page 127. CUA Press, 2000.]
Epiphanius dates Akouas' preaching in Eleutheropolis to the reign of
Aurelian (273-274). According to
Samuel N. C. Lieu, this places Akouas "among Mani's second generation of disciples whom Mani sent to consolidate the work of Adda and
Patik" in Rome's eastern provinces.
See also
*
Mar Ammo
References
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Manichaeism
3rd-century people