On the Origin of the World 3

1When the archon saw his size—though he saw no one but himself, since he could see nothing beyond water and darkness—he imagined that he was the only one who existed. His [. . .] was completed through verbal articulation, which [] manifested itself as a spirit moving back and forth over the waters. When that spirit had appeared, the archon separated the watery substance, and the dry substance was set apart in another place. From matter he fashioned a dwelling place for himself and called it “Heaven.” From matter the archon also fashioned a footstool and called it “Earth.”

2Then a thought occurred to the archon, in agreement with his nature, and through verbal articulation he created an androgyne. He opened his mouth and made a cooing sound to him. When his eyes opened, he looked at his father and made the sound “eee!” His father then named him “Eee-a-o.”

3Then he created the second son, making a cooing sound to him. When the son opened his eyes, he made the sound “eh!” to his father. His father named him “Eloai.”

4Then he created the third son, making a cooing sound to him. When the son opened his eyes, he made the sound “asss!” to his father. His father named him “Astaphaios.”

5These three are the sons of their father.