Adamites
| Adamites | |
|---|---|
| Classification | Christianity |
| Orientation | Gnostic (disputed) |
| Founder | Prodicus (attributed) |
| Origin | 2nd century North Africa (according to Epiphanius) |
| Other name | Adamiani |
| The historical existence of a distinct Adamite sect is disputed by modern scholars; the term may represent a heresiological construct. | |
The Adamites, also called Adamians, were adherents of an early Christian sect reportedly active in North Africa during the 2nd through 4th centuries. According to ancient sources, the group practiced ritual nudity, believing they had regained the primeval innocence of Adam and Eve before the Fall. Similar beliefs and practices were attributed to various groups in medieval and early modern Europe, whose adherents were also labeled Adamites by contemporary chroniclers.