Mandaeism, sometimes also known as Nasoraeanism or Sabianism, is a Gnostic, monotheistic and ethnic religion with Greek, Iranian, and Jewish influences. Its adherents, the Mandaeans, revere Adam, Abel, Seth, Enos, Noah, Shem, Aram, and especially John the Baptist. Mandaeans consider Adam, Seth, Noah, Shem and John the Baptist prophets, with Adam being the founder of the religion and John being the greatest and final prophet.
Krun or Akrun is a Mandaean lord of the underworld. According to Mandaean cosmology, he dwells in the lowest depths of creation, supporting the entirety of the physical world.
In Mandaeism, Rūha is the queen of the World of Darkness or underworld. She rules the underworld together with her son Ur, the king of the World of Darkness, and her entourage of the seven planets and twelve constellations, who are also her offspring with Ur.
Adam Kasia means "the hidden Adam" in Mandaic. The hidden Adam is also called Adam Qadmaiia. In Mandaeism, it means the soul of the first man. He is also identified as Shishlam, the primordial priest.
An uthra or ʿutra is a "divine messenger of the light" in Mandaeism. Charles G. Häberl and James F. McGrath translate it as "excellency". Jorunn Jacobsen Buckley defines them as "Lightworld beings, called 'utras ." Aldihisi (2008) compares them to the yazata of Zoroastrianism. According to E. S. Drower, "an 'uthra is an ethereal being, a spirit of light and Life."
In Mandaeism, ʿUr is the king of the World of Darkness or underworld. He is the son of Ruha, the queen of the underworld, and her brother Gaf, one of the giants in the World of Darkness described in book 5 of the Ginza Rabba. Ur is typically portrayed as a large, ferocious dragon or snake. He is represented by the image of a serpent on the skandola talisman.
Mandaean cosmology is the Gnostic conception of the universe in the religion of Mandaeism.
In Mandaeism, Manda d-Hayyi or Manda ḏ-Hiia is an uthra sent by the Great Life as a messenger to John the Baptist. Manda d-Hayyi is considered to be the most important uthra, since he is the one bringing manda to Earth (Tibil).
In Mandaeism, Hibil or Hibil Ziwa is an uthra from the World of Light. Hibil is considered to be the Mandaean equivalent of Abel.
In Mandaeism, the World of Darkness is the underworld located below Tibil (Earth). It is ruled by its king Ur the Leviathan and its queen Ruha, mother of the seven planets and twelve constellations.
In Mandaeism, Shishlam is a figure representing the prototypical Mandaean priest or Mandaean. He is also frequently referred to in Mandaean texts as Šišlam Rabba (Classical Mandaic: ࡔࡉࡔࡋࡀࡌ ࡓࡁࡀ, romanized: Šišlam Rba, lit. 'Great Shishlam'. Shishlam is sometimes identified with Adam Kasia, the "Perfect Man".
Dinanukht is a mythological character in the Ginza Rabba, one of the main religious scriptures of Mandaeism, who is portrayed as an anthropomorphic book. Book 6 of the Right Ginza describes his ascension to the World of Light.
In Mandaeism, Gaf or Gap is the male consort of Ruha, the queen of the World of Darkness or underworld. His son is Ur, king of the World of Darkness. He is mentioned in book 5 of the Ginza Rabba. Gaf is typically portrayed as a giant.
In Mandaeism, Qin is the mother of Ruha and Zahreil, and grandmother of Ur in the World of Darkness or underworld. In Mandaean texts, she is frequently mentioned as the "queen of darkness." One of her epithets is Sumqaq, which also refers to a well of polluted water in the World of Darkness. Her husband is the demon Anathan.
In Mandaeism, Zahreil or Zahrʿil is the daughter of Qin, sister of Ruha, and mother of Ptahil. According to Book 5 of the Right Ginza, during Hibil Ziwa's descent to the World of Darkness or underworld, he marries Zahreil, who then gives birth to the creator of the material universe, Ptahil.
In Mandaeism, Anathan or Anatan is a demon in the World of Darkness or underworld. He is the husband of Qin, a demoness who is the mother of Ruha and Zahreil. Hibil Ziwa encounters Anathan during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the Right Ginza. In the aforementioned chapter, Anathan is described as "the warrior of darkness" and also as a "warlike giant." Together with Qin, the couple is described as the "giants of darkness".
In Mandaeism, Giu is a demon in the World of Darkness or underworld. Hibil Ziwa encounters Giu during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the Right Ginza.
In Mandaeism, Zartai-Zartanai is a demon in the World of Darkness or underworld. Hibil Ziwa encounters Zartai-Zartanai during his descent to the World of Darkness in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the Right Ginza, which mentions Zartai-Zartanai's wife as Amamit.
In Mandaean cosmology, Siniawis is a region in the World of Darkness or underworld. It is described as "the lower earth of the darkness" in Chapter 1 of Book 5 in the Right Ginza.
In Mandaeism, Nbaṭ is an uthra who is described as the "King of Air" or the "first great Radiance." He is also called Nbaṭ Rba or Nbaṭ Ziwa "the Radiant Nbaṭ", literally "Radiance Burst Forth". In The Thousand and Twelve Questions , he is also known as Kušṭa Yaqra "Solemn Truth".
