A recording of a recitation of Mani's beautiful 'The Ships Of Light', accompanied with improvised music performed on the saz and frame drum. Manichaeanism was a Gnostic religion from the era of late antiquity, preached by a prophet named Mani who lived in what is today Iraq in the 3rd century AD. He taught that all the universe was divided into two entities, good and evil and expressed as a struggle between light and darkness, with the soul inhabiting the material body only temporarily, rejoicing upon returning in death to the source of Light which is Divinity and pure bliss. His Gospel mentions that all religious scriptures and traditions shared a message of light, proven in the universal values and basic beliefs shared by all faith traditions, that Jesus, Zoroaster and Buddha among others were messengers of that same, universal message. 

Manichaeism became popular and spread, once found from the shores of the Pacific in China to the French shores of the Atlantic, thus designating it as the world's truly universal religion. Mani and his followers were persecuted however and by the later Middle Ages eventually disappeared, though his narratives of defining the essences of light versus darkness became an important element among many religions, including Christianity and Islam.

Ismail Butera     narration, saz lute
Natalia Perlaza  frame drum

Copyright 2018

The Ships of Light

I compose and recite tales based on ancient epics and poetry, as well as perform on a variety of traditional & modern instruments; longed necked lutes, various flutes, lyre and yes, even accordion. Folk music, history and ancient art & literature are my passions. 

Visit my website www.echoesofantiquity.net to hear, see and read about my realm.

New tracks tagged #ancient religion