Mani (216-274) was an Iranian who lived during the transition of power in Persia from the foreign Parthians to the native Sassanid dynasty – and enjoyed favour among the latter, at least for a time. He was born during a period of great religious ferment in the Near East.
The dominant religion in Persia was Zoroastrianism, which taught a sort of dualism – the idea that there are two equally powerful gods: the good Ahura Mazda and the evil Ahriman. There were many Gnostic sects of pagan, Jewish and Christian orientation – and other heretical and orthodox Christian communities as well. Mani’s father was an Elcasaite, a Jewish Christian sect.
