What is "aeon"

aeon \aeon\, AEon \[AE]"on\, n.

1. A period of immeasurable duration. See Eon.

2. (Gnosticism) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe.

   Syn: eon

3. the longest division of geological time; two or more eras.

   Syn: eon

1640s; see eon.

n. (context AU NZ British English) (alternative spelling of eon English)

1. n. (Gnosticism) a divine power or nature emanating from the Supreme Being and playing various roles in the operation of the universe [syn: eon]

2. the longest division of geological time [syn: eon]

3. an immeasurably long period of time [syn: eon]

The word aeon , also spelled eon and æon ( in American English), originally meant "life", "vital force" or "being", "generation" or "a period of time", though it tended to be translated as "age" in the sense of "ages", "forever", "timeless" or "for eternity". It is a Latin transliteration from the koine Greek word (ho aion), from the archaic (aiwon). In Homer it typically refers to life or lifespan. Its latest meaning is more or less similar to the Sanskrit word kalpa and Hebrew word olam. A cognate Latin word aevum or aeuum (cf. ) for "age" is present in words such as longevity and mediaeval.

Although the term aeon may be used in reference to a period of a billion years (especially in geology, cosmology or astronomy), its more common usage is for any long, indefinite, period. Aeon can also refer to the four aeons on the Geologic Time Scale that make up the Earth's history, the Hadean, Archean, Proterozoic, and the current aeon Phanerozoic.

Aeon or æon means age, or alternatively forever or for eternity. It may also refer to:

is a chain of English conversation teaching companies in Japan. It is considered one of the historical "Big Four" eikaiwa schools.

The company operates 320 branch schools throughout Japan, and maintains staff recruitment offices in New York City and Los Angeles.

In November 2013 it was reported that Aeon had approximately 100,000 students studying English.

, commonly written AEON Co., Ltd., is the holding company of Æon Group. It has its headquarters in Mihama-ku, Chiba, Chiba Prefecture.

It operates all the AEON Retail Stores (formerly known as JUSCO supermarkets) directly in Japan. Meanwhile, AEON CO. (M) BHD operates all the AEON Retail Stores directly in Malaysia.

ÆON is the largest retailer in Asia. ÆON is a retail network comprising around 300 consolidated subsidiaries and 26 equity-method affiliated companies ranging from convenience stores " Ministop" and supermarkets to shopping malls and specialty stores, including Talbots. ÆON is Japan's single-largest shopping mall developer and operator.

In the religion of Thelema, it is believed that the history of humanity can be divided into a series of aeons (also written æons), each of which was accompanied by its own forms of "magical and religious expression". The first of these was the Aeon of Isis, which Thelemites believed occurred during prehistory and which saw mankind worshipping a Great Goddess, symbolised by the ancient Egyptian deity Isis. In Thelemite beliefs, this was followed by the Aeon of Osiris, a period that took place in the classical and mediaeval centuries, when humanity worshipped a singular male god, symbolised by the Egyptian god Osiris, and was therefore dominated by patriarchal values. And finally the third aeon, the Aeon of Horus, which was controlled by the child god, symbolised by Horus. In this new aeon, Thelemites believe that humanity will enter a time of self-realization and self-actualization.

Within the Thelemite religion, each of these aeons is believed to be "characterized by their [own specific] magical formula", the use of which "is very important and fundamental to the understanding of ... Thelemic Magick".

Aeon is the second studio album by the Norwegian blackened death metal band Zyklon. It was released in 2003 through Candlelight Records.

AEON is a leading exporter and manufacturer of ATVs, scooters and mini-bikes in Taiwan and is based in Tainan City, Taiwan.

Aeon is a death metal band that formed in Östersund, Sweden in 1999. The band comprises vocalist Tommy Dahlström, guitarists Sebastian Nilsson and Ronnie Björnström, bassist Tony Östman and drummer Emil Wiksten. The band released its debut album, Bleeding the False, in 2005; and the second album Rise to Dominate in 2007, after signing a record deal with Metal Blade Records. The band's third album, Path of Fire, was released in 2010 and Aeons Black in 2012.

According to AllMusic, Aeon plays an "uncommonly intense, technically proficient, high-velocity brand of death metal".

"Aeon" is a single by American chamber pop band Antony and the Johnsons, originally released as part of their third studio album The Crying Light. It was released on August 3 (UK/Europe) and August 4 (US) on CD, digital and 7" vinyl as a double A-sided single.

The single features a cover of Beyoncé's 2003 chart topping hit " Crazy in Love", a song they had previously covered during their live shows. A video for the cover premiered on August 14, 2009 via Pitchfork.tv It was directed by Joie Iacono with footage of Pink Lady by James Elaine.

"Aeon" was performed on the Late Show with David Letterman on February 18, 2009. The song was covered by American indie rock band Cold War Kids for their eighth EP Tuxedos.

In many Gnostic systems, various emanations of " God" are known by such names as One, Monad, Aion teleos (αἰών τέλεος "The Broadest Aeon"), Bythos ("depth or profundity", ), Proarkhe ("before the beginning", ), Arkhe ("the beginning", ), and Aeons. In different systems these emanations are differently named, classified, and described, but emanation theory is common to all forms of Gnosticism. In Basilidian Gnosis they are called sonships (υἱότητες huiotetes; sing.: υἱότης huiotes); according to Marcus, they are numbers and sounds; in Valentinianism they form male/female pairs called syzygies (Greek , from σύζυγοι syzygoi, lit. "yokings together").

This source of all being is an Aeon, in which an inner being dwells, known as Ennoea ("thought, intent", Greek ), Charis ("grace", Greek ), or Sige ("silence", Greek ). The split perfect being conceives the second Aeon, Nous ("mind", Greek Νους), within itself. Along with male Nous comes female Aeon Aletheia ("truth", Greek Αληθεια). These are the primary roots of Aeons. Complex hierarchies of Aeons are thus produced, sometimes to the number of thirty. These Aeons belong to a purely ideal, noumenal, intelligible, or supersensible world; they are immaterial, they are hypostatic ideas. Together with the source from which they emanate, they form Pleroma ("region of light", Greek ). The lowest regions of Pleroma are closest to darkness—that is, the physical world.

The transition from immaterial to material, from noumenal to sensible, is created by a flaw, passion, or sin in an Aeon. According to Basilides, it is a flaw in the last sonship; according to others the sin of the Great Archon, or Aeon-Creator, of the Universe; according to others it is the passion of the female Aeon Sophia, who emanates without her partner Aeon, resulting in the Demiurge (Greek ), a creature that should never have been. This creature does not belong to Pleroma, and the One emanates two savior Aeons, Christ and the Holy Spirit, to save humanity from the Demiurge. Christ then took a human form (Jesus), to teach humanity how to achieve Gnosis. The ultimate end of all Gnosis is μετάνοια metanoia, or repentance—undoing the sin of material existence and returning to Pleroma.

Aeons bear a number of similarities to Judaeo-Christian angels, including roles as servants and emanations of God, and existing as beings of light. In fact, certain Gnostic Angels, such as Armozel, are also Aeons. The Gnostic Gospel of Judas, recently found, purchased, held, and translated by the National Geographic Society, also mentions Aeons and speaks of Jesus' teachings about them.

Aeon is a digital magazine of ideas and culture, launched September 2012. Publishing new articles every weekday, Aeon describes itself as a publication which "asks the biggest questions and finds the freshest, most original answers, provided by world-leading authorities on science, philosophy and society."On 1 July 2016, Aeon became a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission, in the categories of advancing culture and advancing education.

Aeon’s content consists of long-form, in-depth Essays, shorter Ideas pieces, and short documentaries under the banner of Aeon Video. It also runs a Conversations channel, where readers are invited to answer questions related to articles, and to contribute their own point of view.

Aeon was founded in London by Paul and Brigid Hains. It now has offices in London, Melbourne and New York.