Simon the Magician

Simon the Magician or the Magus, according to the Christians, or Simon de Samarie , born with Gitton (current Palestine) and probably dead with Rome at the 1st century, is a Christian gnostic, whose writings were condemned like heretics by the Église.

Biography

According to the Acts of the Apostles, after being baptized by Philippe, Simon the Magician wanted to buy with Pierre his capacity to make miracles (Acts, VIII.9-21), which was worth to him the judgment of the Apôtre: “ That your money perishes with you, because you thought of acquiring with money the gift of God ”.

Justin and Irenee of Lyon gives us other details. According to them, Simon comes from the village Samaritan of Gitta and it is called Zeus by the simoniens, and his/her Helene partner is called Athéna.

They also declare that a statue with Simon was set up by Claude on an island of the the Tiber, where two bridges cross, with the inscription “ Simoni Deo Sancto ”, “in Simon holy God”. At the 16th century, a statue was actually put at the day on the described island. On the other hand, the inscription is addressed to “Semo Sancus”, a divinity Sabine. This led the historians to think that Justin the Martyr confused Semo Sancus and Simon.

As for many ancient thinkers, two versions of its death exist, both legendary and intended to make the prolongation of its life of it.

From its name the word “Simonie comes”. See also “Simonisme” which is the current one of thought created by Simon the magician often quoted like one of the founding fathers of the gnostic current.

See too

Sources

, p 47-53

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