In the dusty ruins of the Turfan oasis along the Silk Road, archaeologists in the early 20th century uncovered a treasure trove of manuscripts that had been silenced by the sands for a millennium. Among these fragments, written in languages like Middle Persian, Parthian, and Uighur, was a text that bridged the gap between the ancient Jewish prophets and the dualistic cosmology of Persia. This text is the Manichaean Book of Giants.

For scholars of antiquity, this discovery was shocking. Previously, the “Book of Giants” was known only by name or through obscure references. However, the Turfan fragments revealed that Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, had not only read the ancient Enochic literature but had adapted it to serve as a cornerstone of his new global religion. Consequently, the Manichaean Book of Giants serves as a fascinating theological bridge, transforming the Jewish story of the fallen angels into a universal myth of Light battling Darkness.

Today, exploring the Manichaean Book of Giants allows us to see how stories travel, mutate, and survive. As we delve into this Persian connection to Enoch, we will encounter familiar figures like the Watchers and the Nephilim, but we will also meet surprising characters like the Sumerian hero Gilgamesh. Furthermore, we will understand why a 3rd-century Babylonian prophet believed that the story of the giants was essential for the salvation of the world.

The Prophet Mani and His Library

To understand the Manichaean Book of Giants, we must first understand the man behind it. Mani (c. 216–274 CE) was raised in a Jewish-Christian baptist sect in Mesopotamia. Eventually, he proclaimed himself the “Apostle of Light,” the final seal of the prophets, succeeding Zoroaster, Buddha, and Jesus.

Unlike other religious founders who relied on oral tradition, Mani was obsessed with writing his own canon to prevent corruption. Significantly, he accepted the authority of the Jewish apocalypses, specifically the writings attributed to Enoch. While the orthodox Church was busy excluding these texts from the Bible—a process detailed in Why Were the Apocryphal Books Removed From the Bible?—Mani embraced them.

Therefore, the Manichaean Book of Giants (known as the Kawan in Middle Persian) became one of the seven canonical scriptures of Manichaeism. By doing so, Mani validated the ancient Jewish lore of the Watchers but reinterpreted it through his own dualistic lens. He saw the giants not just as sinners, but as tragic manifestations of the chaotic mixture of spirit and matter.

From Qumran to Turfan: The Textual Journey

The relationship between the Manichaean Book of Giants and the earlier Aramaic version found among the Dead Sea Scrolls is undeniable. Before the discovery at Qumran, scholars assumed Mani had invented the story. However, the Dead Sea Scrolls proved that Mani had access to an earlier Aramaic Book of Giants.

Historically, the transmission likely occurred in the Aramaic-speaking provinces of the Persian Empire. Here, the story of the Watchers (fallen angels) descending to Mount Hermon to mate with human women was well known. Specifically, Mani took this narrative and translated it into Syriac, and his disciples later translated it into the various languages of the Silk Road.

Nevertheless, the Manichaean Book of Giants is not a word-for-word translation. It is an adaptation. For instance, while the Qumran text focuses on the purity of Israel, the Manichaean text focuses on the cosmic battle between the forces of Light and the Archons of Darkness. For a deeper look at the source material, Unlocking the Secrets of the Dead Sea Scrolls provides essential context on the Qumran library.

The Giants Speak: Gilgamesh and Humbaba

One of the most startling features of the Manichaean Book of Giants is the names of the protagonists. In the biblical tradition, the giants are nameless monsters or generic “mighty men.” In contrast, the Manichaean fragments give them distinct identities drawn from ancient Mesopotamian mythology.

Specifically, the text mentions:

• Gilgamesh: The legendary king of Uruk.
• Hobabish: A linguistic adaptation of Humbaba, the monster killed by Gilgamesh in the Epic of Gilgamesh.
• Ohya and Sahya: The sons of the arch-demon Semyaza (Shemyaza).

This inclusion is remarkable. It shows that the memory of the Sumerian epics survived in the Near East for thousands of years and was integrated into Jewish and Gnostic folklore. In the Manichaean Book of Giants, Gilgamesh is not a hero but one of the Nephilim—a hybrid offspring of demons and humans.

Consequently, these giants are portrayed as complex characters. They are tormented by nightmares predicting their destruction. For example, in one fragment, a giant dreams of a tablet being washed in water, erasing all names except three. This connects directly to Gilgamesh in the Book of Giants, highlighting the cultural syncretism of the era.

The Role of Enoch and Mahaway

In the Manichaean Book of Giants, Enoch plays the role of the distant, divine arbitrator. Because the giants cannot access heaven directly due to their impure nature, they need an intermediary.

Enter Mahaway. In the Manichaean fragments, Mahaway (likely the son of the angel Michael or a similar figure) acts as the messenger. He flies between the camp of the giants and the scribe Enoch, who dwells in a remote paradise.

The narrative arc typically follows this pattern:

1. The Giants have terrifying dreams.
2. They send Mahaway to find Enoch.
3. Enoch interprets the dreams as a forecast of the coming Flood and the destruction of the Watchers.
4. The Giants react with despair and violence.

This structure mirrors the classic Enochic tales found in The Legacy of Enoch in Jewish and Christian Traditions. However, Mani emphasizes the inability of the giants to repent. In his theology, they are “abortions,” beings of chaotic darkness that must be purged for the light to return to the Father.

Comparative Study: Aramaic vs. Manichaean Versions

To fully appreciate the Manichaean Book of Giants, we must compare it with its Jewish predecessor.

Feature	Qumran Book of Giants (Aramaic)	Manichaean Book of Giants
Context	Second Temple Judaism	Manichaean Dualism
Language	Aramaic	Syriac, Middle Persian, Parthian
The Giants	Corruptions of Creation	Byproducts of the Realm of Darkness
Names	Gilgamesh, Hobabish, Ohya	Sam, Nariman (adapted for Persian audiences)
Focus	Ritual Purity & Judgment	Liberation of Trapped Light

Notably, as the text moved East, Mani’s followers adapted the names further. In Persian translations, the giants were sometimes equated with heroes from the Shahnameh (like Sam and Nariman) to make the story familiar to Zoroastrian readers. This adaptability was key to the success of the Manichaean Book of Giants across diverse cultures.

Theological Significance: The War of Light and Dark

Why was this story so important to Mani? Fundamentally, the Manichaean Book of Giants illustrates his cosmology. For Mani, the world was created as a result of a cosmic catastrophe where the Kingdom of Darkness attacked the Kingdom of Light.

The Watchers (demons in Mani’s view) were imprisoned in the sky. However, during a rebellion, some fell to earth. Their offspring, the giants, represent the ultimate entrapment of light particles within dense, evil matter. Therefore, the destruction of the giants is a necessary step in the purification of the universe.

Moreover, this narrative reinforces the Manichaean call to asceticism. Just as the giants’ lust led to chaos, human lust perpetuates the imprisonment of the light. Thus, the text serves as a cautionary tale for the “Elect” (Manichaean monks) to avoid the passions of the flesh. This dualistic struggle is similar to themes explored in The Interplay of Good and Evil in the Apocalypse of Adam.

Why This Text Matters Today

Why should we care about a fragmented book from a dead religion? Because the Manichaean Book of Giants is a testament to the interconnectedness of human spirituality.

1. The Survival of Myth It shows that stories like Gilgamesh and Enoch did not stay within their national borders. They were the shared heritage of the ancient world, constantly retold to answer new questions.

2. The Bridge Between East and West This text links the Bible with the Silk Road. It reminds us that Christianity and Judaism developed in conversation with Persian and Eastern thought. Indeed, this cross-pollination is further discussed in How Zoroastrianism Influenced Early Christian Thought.

3. The Complexity of the Canon The existence of this book challenges our notion of a fixed “Bible.” For millions of Manichaeans for over a thousand years, the story of the giants was scripture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Manichaean Book of Giants Gnostic? Yes. Manichaeism is arguably the most organized and widespread form of Gnosticism in history. It posits that salvation comes through knowledge (gnosis) of the divine light trapped within us, and it views the material world as a prison created by dark forces.

Does the text mention the Flood? Yes. Like the biblical account, the Manichaean Book of Giants culminates in the Flood. However, for Mani, the Flood was not just about water; it was a mechanism to destroy the bodies of the giants so the light trapped inside them could be released (though the demons themselves were damned).

Are there complete copies of the book? No. We only possess fragments found in Turfan (China) and some citations in Coptic Manichaean texts found in Egypt. Consequently, scholars have to piece the narrative together like a jigsaw puzzle, using the Dead Sea Scrolls as a guide.

Who is King Og in this tradition? In the Jewish tradition (and Deuteronomy), Og of Bashan is a giant who survived the Flood (or lived after it). In the Manichaean Book of Giants, the figure of “Ohya” (one of the giants) is linguistically linked to Og, suggesting a continuity of this specific character as a leader of the fallen race.

Conclusion: The Giants Fall, The Light Rises

The Manichaean Book of Giants offers a captivating glimpse into a lost world where prophets debated with monsters and ancient kings became cautionary tales. By adapting the Jewish legacy of Enoch, Mani created a powerful myth that resonated from Rome to China.

Ultimately, this text reminds us that the story of the giants is more than just a fable about big men. It is a story about the consequences of transgressing boundaries—between heaven and earth, spirit and matter. For the Manichaeans, the giants were the ultimate symbol of the tragic, messy reality of existence, a reality that could only be transcended by the liberating call of the Light.

As we reflect on these ancient fragments, we see the enduring power of the Enochic tradition to speak to the human condition, warning us of the darkness while pointing us toward the stars.

Check out the author’s book here: The Book of Giants.