Mani (prophet)
Mani | |
|---|---|
مانی | |
Sealstone of Mani, rock crystal, possibly 3rd century AD, Iraq. Cabinet des Médailles, Paris. The seal reads "Mani, the apostle of Jesus Christ", and may have been used by Mani himself to sign his epistles. | |
| Preceded by | Jesus |
| Personal life | |
| Born | c. April AD 216 |
| Died | 2 March AD 274 or 26 February AD 277 (aged 57–58 or 60–61) |
| Cause of death | During imprisonment, or by execution, on the orders of Bahram I |
| Nationality | Iranian |
| Parent(s) | Pātik, Mariam |
| Citizenship | Sasanian Empire |
| Notable work(s) | Manichaean scripture |
| Religious life | |
| Religion | Jewish Christianity (later Manichaeism) |
| Denomination | Elcesaites |
| Founder of | Manichaeism |
| Part of a series on |
| Manichaeism |
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Mani (/ˈmɑːni/; c. April AD 216 – 2 March AD 274 or 26 February AD 277) was an Iranian prophet and the founder of Manichaeism, a religion most prevalent in late antiquity.
Mani was born in or near Ctesiphon (south of modern Baghdad) in Mesopotamia, at the time part of the Parthian Empire. Seven of his major works were written in Syriac, and the eighth, dedicated to the Sasanian emperor Shapur I, was written in Middle Persian. He died shortly after being imprisoned by Bahram I in Gundeshapur.