InMandaeism,Ptahil(Classical Mandaic:ࡐࡕࡀࡄࡉࡋ) also known asPtahil-Uthra(uthra,"angel, guardian" ),[1]: 8 is the Fourth Life, the third of three emanations from the First Life,Hayyi Rabbi,afterYushaminandAbatur.Ptahil-Uthra alone does not constitute thedemiurgebut only fills that role since he is viewed as the creator of the material world in theGinza Rabba,often holding an inherently malicious character.[1][2]: 65 [3][4][5]
Matthias Norbergbelieved the name Ptahil to be composed ofAramaicפתאהandעיל,therefore meaning "God opened", although the verb can also mean "create" in Mandaic, but not in other Aramaic languages.[3]Subsequent scholars have deemed it more probably derived from the Egyptian theonym 'Ptah' and angelic 'il',[6][1][7]as originally conjectured byMark Lidzbarski,althoughCarl H. Kraelingargued that the influence of Ptah on Mesopotamian syncretic Gnostic traditions is minimal, and opined that the name Ptahil was derived from the dialectal use of the verb (which usage he suggested to have arisen by analogy to the opening of thecosmic egg), and notvice versa.[3]According toJames F. McGrath,Ptah andElwere identified inCanaanduring the era of Egyptian rule of which Ptahil may be derived from.[8]
As the Fourth Life, Ptahil is considered to be the son ofAbatur,the Third Life.[1]However, in some versions of the narrative, Ptahil originated as the son of the saviour uthraHibil Ziwa,who inhabits theWorld of Light,andZahreil(ࡆࡀࡄࡓࡏࡉࡋ).[9]Zahreil is alilith(ࡋࡉࡋࡉࡕࡀ) from theWorld of Darknesswho dwells in the beds of pregnant women[10]serving to ensure the wellbeing of the child before and after birth;E. S. Drowerdescribes her as ageniusof childbirth.[11]: 46 Hibil married Zahreil during hisdescentto the World of Darkness, although some versions of the narrative claim he did notconsummatethe marriage.[12]
Ptahil is identified withGabrieland creates the poorly made material world with the help ofRuha,a sinful and fallen female ruler who inhabits the World of Darkness, but cannot provide man with a soul,[1][14][11]: 73 since she represents the ambivalent "spirit" element rather than the light-world "soul" element.[15]Ruha and Ptahil's roles in creation vary, with each gaining control when the other's power subsides.[15]The Great Life (Hayyi Rabbi) helpedAbaturin gaining the secrets of solidification. Abatur in turn passes on the secrets to Ptahil so that he was successful in solidifying the earth in his role as creator of the material world.[2]: 136 According toBrikha Nasoraia,the creation of the material worldtibiloccurs by God'sHayyi Rabbicommand, but is delegated to a subservient emanation or uthra Ptahil with the assistance ofGabrieland others.[16]: 39–41
^Drower, Ethel S.(1953).The Haran Gawaita and The Baptism of Hibil-Ziwa: The Mandaic text reproduced together with translation, notes and commentary.Vatican City:Biblioteca Apostolica Vaticana.p. 34, translator's footnote #3.³Pthahil,son of Hibil-Ziwa and Zahariel: a demiurge, creator of the material world: also called the "Fourth Life".
^abDrower, Ethel Stefana. The Mandaeans of Iraq and Iran. Oxford At The Clarendon Press, 1937
^"Book Five: The Descent of the Savior".Ginza Rabba.Vol. Right Volume. Translated by Al-Saadi, Qais; Al-Saadi, Hamed (2nd ed.). Germany: Drabsha. 2019. pp. 70–83.
^Haberl, Charles and McGrath, James (2020).The Mandaean Book of John: critical edition, translation, and commentary.Berlin: De Gruyter.ISBN978-3-11-048651-3.OCLC1129155601.{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
