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Mani
(216- 276) Founder of religion, now called Manichaeism.
He was born in the province Babylon which was under Persian rule. His family was Persian, but his name is Aramaic. Mani have probably originally belonged to a Christian sect, now called Elkhasitts (a group of heretical Jewish- Christians).
At the age of 12 and 24, Mani had visions where an angel told him that he would be the prophet of a last divine revelation. A the age of 26 Mani started on a long journey, where he stood forward as 'Messenger of Truth', and he travelled through the Persian Empire and reached as far as India, where he became influenced by Buddhism.
Mani practised under the protection of the Persian emperor, Shapur 1, most of his life. As his teaching quickly gained ground, he came in opposition to the Zoroastrian priests, and with the emperor Bahram 1 from 274, Mani lost his protection, and he either died in prison or was executed. The death of Mani, is retold as an incident similar to the crucifixion of Jesus.
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By: Tore Kjeilen
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