ORIGIN: Gnostic Christian
TYPE: Primordial Female force.
KNOWN PERIOD OF WORSHIP: Probably circa 200 BCE to circa 400 CE.
SYNONYMS: Pistis Sophia
CENTER(S) OF CULT: Undefined cells in areas of early Christian influence.
LITERARY SOURCES: Nag Hammadi Codices.
INFORMATION: The exact origin of Pistis is never made clear and the Nag Hammadi narratives are in places confused adn contradictory. It is, however, an unmistakably female principle typical of most religions in their concept of the origin of the world. Pistis appears to be a benign female element among the primordial immortals who ruled before even the cosmos was created. She is closely allied with Sophia (wisdom). Pistis appears to have been formed out of infinity before the "shadow" that was to evolve into chaos, and from which the cosmos would take shape, defined itself within limitless light (see also Sophia and Yaldabaoth).