MANI, MANEs, MANicn.p.us (entitled Zendik, Sadducee), the founder of the heretical sect of the Maniehans (q.v.), who lived in the 3d c., A.D. Little is known with regard to his early history, and the accounts transmitted throne" two distinct sources—the western or Greek, and the eastern—are legendary and contradictory on almost every important point. According to certain—very dubious—acts of a disputation held between Manes and Archelaus, bishop of Cascar (?), lie was first called Curbicus, and was bought as a slave, at the age of seven years, by the wife of one Ctesiplion, in Babylonia. who gave hitn a good education, and at her death made him sole heir. Among the books she left him, he is said to have found the writings of Scythianus, which had been given' to her by.one of the latter's disciples named Terebinthus, or Budda. Mani emigrated into Persia, where he remained up to his sixtieth year, and changed his former name, so as to obliterate all traces of his orioin and former state. Here he also became acquainted with the New Testament and other Christian works; and gradually conceived the idea of amalgamating the Magian with the Christian religion, and of adding what he knew of Buddhism to the new faith. For the better carrying out of this plan, he announced that he was the paraclete promised by Christ. King Sapor I. of Persia, in whose days he first proclaimed his mission, at first looked not unfavorably upon his proceedings; but _ when he had failed to heal the prince, his son, he was cast into prison, whence he man aged to escape, but, pursued and captured, he wag publicly executed. According to
other accounts, however, Mani was the scion of a noble Magian family, and a man of extraordinary mental powers, and artistic and scientific abilities—an eminent painter, mathematician, etc.—embraced Christianity in early manhood, and became presbyter at a church in Elivaz or A hvaj, in the Persian province of Hazitis, gave himself out to be the paraclete, and styled himself in ecclesiastical documents "Mani, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the election of God the Father." Persecuted by king Sapor I., lie sought refuge in foreign countries, went to India, China, and Turkistan, and there lived in a cave for 12 months, during which he is said to have been in heaven. He reappeared with a wonderful book of drawings and pictures, called Erdshenk or Ertenki Mani. After the death of Sapor (272 A.D.), he returned to Persia, where Hormuz, the new king, who was well inclined towards him, received him with great honors, and in order to protect him more effectually against the persecutions of the Magi, gave him the stronghold of Deshereh, in Susiana, as a residence. After the death of this king, how ever, Behram, his successor, entrapped Mani into a public disputation with the Magi, for which purpose lie had to leave his castle; and he was seized upon, flayed alive, and hung before Djondishapur, 277 A.D. For his doctrine, etc., see MANicrizEANs.