The Initiates of Egypt

By Asher Benowitz

The ancient Egyptians celebrated festivals (entirely or partially) in temples. These were sacred places where humans could approach the gods. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the character of the temples as separate entities from the world because they are in the lands that first appeared."

The number of temples built by other ancient cultures is unparalleled. They have been classified as mansions of the deities, models of Egypt and the cosmos, focal points of worship, portals to the divine, islands of order amid oceans of chaos, and spiritual engines. Despite the physical stone of these temples, "we can still perceive much of their symbolic nature, the deeper reasons for their construction" beneath the surface.

• Language: English
• Publisher: DTTV PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Apr 3, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201333362

Asher Benowitz

Born in Poland to Jewish Parents, he has long been fascinated with All things Middle East.

Book preview

The Initiates

of Egypt

In Search of the Ogdoad

and

Ancient Adept Wisdom

ASHER BENOWITZ

THE ANCIENT EGYPTIANS celebrated festivals (entirely or partially) in temples. These were sacred places where humans could approach the gods. Therefore, it is imperative to understand the character of the temples as separate entities from the world because they are in the lands that first appeared."

The number of temples built by other ancient cultures is unparalleled. They have been classified as mansions of the deities, models of Egypt and the cosmos, focal points of worship, portals to the divine, islands of order amid oceans of chaos, and spiritual engines. Despite the physical stone of these temples, we can still perceive much of their symbolic nature, the deeper reasons for their construction beneath the surface.

It was said that there were two types of temples, namely: (a) the houses of the gods, serving their patron deities, and (b) the temples serving the royal cult of the son of Re (before he died, for his Sed Festivals, and in his mortuary cult). Egypt's history has been characterized by a thick curtain of silence between its sacred temples and the outside secular world.

The earliest traces date back to Predynastic (ca. 6000 - 6500 BCE - Nabta Playa), whereas the last temple (of Isis at Philae) was closed by Emperor Justinian in 535 CE (Theodosius in 384 CE had ordered the closure of the temples in Egypt, officially ending the Pagan Era).

Among the most important of these monuments are sanctuaries and treasuries, offices and palaces, and schools. These church complexes were the center of government, economy, and commerce, but they were also the home of science and scholarship, and generations of learned priests pursued the study of existence itself."

There is a growing belief that modern spirituality lacks the passion, devotion, and reflection caused by the oldest religions. These religions have intertwined mind, body, and soul with mythic themes throughout history. The Egyptian temple exhibited this by enfolding its constituents in grand celebrations accompanied by time-honored liturgy, music, and ritual. The mythology of the Neteru and their powers within the sanctuary provides a model of behavior and experience for every stage of life and every profession or station. Additionally, the ancient Egyptians belonged to a society that revered their origins and found their existence in nature. We can only imagine what society would be like if every aspect of our lives-from the design of our clothing and architecture to the calendar of our work, leisure, and spiritual pursuits-reflected such a pure vision of order and harmony.

Egypt did not monopolize this spiritual vision, but her religious tradition was acclaimed for its depth, scope, and duration, even in ancient times. Traveler-historian Diodorus Siculus described Orpheus as being initiated into Osirian rites of Egypt and bringing them to Greece. Ptolemy Soter-founder of the Greek dynasty that reigned Egypt at the end of the Roman Empire-consulted the Egyptian priest Manetho to organize a unifying theological mandate for the region by Hellenizing the cults of Asar and Auset. Greek rationalism influenced the religious traditions they discovered in Egypt, while the Romans who followed brought a homogenization of all the oriental doctrines they encountered. During the Graeco-Roman era, Egyptian temple traditions had spread to nearly every civilized country, and with them came a spiritual program that was influenced by the diverse themes of Eleusinian, Mithraic, and Dionysian religions they encountered, as well as one of the most exemplary aspects of Egyptian esoteric tradition: the mysteries.

At first, the priesthood performed Egyptian initiation rites and ceremonies and was preceded by a lengthy study and religious service in the temple. Before achieving status offices, special rites of purification and dedication preceded entry into the Divine House, followed by a service at the Per Neter for a designated period.

As one grew in age, knowledge, and experience, spiritual development improved. When they retired from active service, those who accomplished in the temple gained the title Atf Neter, father of the god, and were considered pontiffs. Besides living at the Divine House, they may have traveled and taught at other religious centers. They may have been regarded as scholars and the ultimate authorities on a temple's history and customs. Af Neter was also the title of the highest religious counselor of the Royal House, who acted as a spiritual mentor or father to the king.

Through the festivals and festivities of the temple, spiritual instruction was widely available to those outside the priesthood. Within the precinct of the holy ground, sacred drama depicted themes of birth, royal ascension, death, and renewal. Additionally, a significant number of devotees freely traveled to the temple centers to take part in rites and receive blessings from