Epiphanius, the great fourth century heresiographer, included in his discussion of the Valentinians an excerpt from a Valentinian manuscript, presumably in his possession. At the end of this excerpt is what Epiphanius believes to be a list of the names of Aeons. However, this list proves to be a Syriac poem concerning the works of the Celestial Light and the Celestial Firmament. Newbold provides the Greek and Syriac texts to this poem with his translation as well as textual notes and commentary. This essay provides the reader with insight to the nature of the text and its contributions to understanding Valentinianism, and also the potential causes for Epiphanius’ mistaking the poem for a list.

William Romaine Newbold (1865-1926) was a philosopher and an antiquarian. A graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, he returned there as a Lecturer in Latin and was later promoted to Assistant Professor of Philosophy and eventually Dean of the Graduate School and later Adam Seybert Professor of Intellectual and Moral Philosophy. His research included several ambitious archaeological and literary analyses including the presumed discovery of the tombs of St. Paul and St. Peter.