Where did Gnosticism start?

By that name, probably in Egypt, although many of the ideas were current around the Mediterranean, probably for centuries before. Hints of it are in the New Testament ' Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free' (John 8:32), 'For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it' (Matthew 7:14). Mystery cults of many descriptions existed, that laid claim to some secret 'knowledge', and some of these seem to relate to what later was called Gnosis.