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Manichaean Book of Giants

The Manichaean Book of Giants is a Manichaean text based on the Enochic Book of Giants, describing the exploits and destruction of the giants, the offspring of the fallen angels and human women.|||Fragments in Aramaic, Middle Persian, Parthian, Sogdian, and Uighur from Turfan, Xinjiang, and other Central Asian sites. Produced in the 8th–9th centuries CE.|||Composed in the 3rd century CE by Mani, based on the Enochic Book of Giants.|||Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.|||One of the seven canonical books of Manichaeism. Presents a distinctive version of the Enochic giant myth, emphasizing the cosmic struggle between Light and Darkness. Important for understanding Manichaean cosmology.|||Milik, J. T. The Books of Enoch. Oxford, 1976.|||Stuckenbruck, L. T. The Book of Giants from Qumran. Mohr Siebeck, 1997.|||Manichaean Book of Giants — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Giants|Background and scholarly discussion.;; Turfan Manuscripts — Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie|https://turfan.bbaw.de/|Digital archive of Turfan fragments.

Collection: Mandaean & Manichaean Canon: varies

Canon Status

Canonical in Manichaeism. Not recognized by any other religious tradition.

Date & Provenance

Composed in the 3rd century CE by Mani, based on the Enochic Book of Giants.

Language & Manuscripts

Fragments in Aramaic, Middle Persian, Parthian, Sogdian, and Uighur from Turfan, Xinjiang, and other Central Asian sites. Produced in the 8th–9th centuries CE.

Why It Matters for Study

One of the seven canonical books of Manichaeism. Presents a distinctive version of the Enochic giant myth, emphasizing the cosmic struggle between Light and Darkness. Important for understanding Manichaean cosmology.

" The giants we're born, and they did evil in the earth, and they we're destroyed by the flood." — Manichaean Book of Giants (paraphrase)

Read the Text & External Resources

Public-domain translations and scholarly databases where the text can be read online or downloaded.

  • " The giants we're born, and they did evil in the earth, and they we're destroyed by the flood." — Manichaean Book of Giants (paraphrase) " The giants we're born, and they did evil in the earth, and they we're destroyed by the flood." — Manichaean Book of Giants (paraphrase)

External links open in a new tab. Sources are chosen for public-domain or open-access availability; always verify edition and translation when citing in academic work.

Further Reading

Milik, J. T. The Books of Enoch. Oxford, 1976.
Stuckenbruck, L. T. The Book of Giants from Qumran. Mohr Siebeck, 1997.
Manichaean Book of Giants — Wikipedia|https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Book_of_Giants|Background and scholarly discussion.;; Turfan Manuscripts — Berlin-Brandenburgische Akademie|https://turfan.bbaw.de/|Digital archive of Turfan fragments.