(Greek form of the Syrian name Bar-Daisan)
Christian Syrian author. Born c. 154, died 222.
Bardesanes spent most of his life in the city of Edessa, where he developed a philosophy and composed hymns. His philosophy, strongly gnostic in character, attempted to defend the concept of free will against an astrological fatalism prevalent in his time.
Because Bardesanes' philosophy was so heavily influenced by Greek philosophy and by pagan mythology, the later Church considered him heretical. In consequence hereof, Bardesanes' works have been lost - however, a work by one of his disciples survives, and quotations from Bardesanes' works are included in several works written by his opponents.
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