The Temple Masters of Egypt

By Asher Benowitz

Many Egyptologists believe that most religious ceremonies and magical rituals preserved in Temple and tomb reliefs were observed initially in dramatic form to convey a transcendental ambiance to the teaching. Edfu's sacred drama inscribed on the inner west wall of the temple precinct was not the least revered of its literary traditions. It tells how the Neter confronts Set in eleven reliefs after attaining the majority and claiming Asar's throne, each featuring a theatrical scene and dialogue. Dramatis personae in The Mystery Play appear to have been members of the Royal House; the audience included nomarchs and the general populace, and the priests served as both theatrical directors and commentators. In Edfu, the play was performed annually on the 21st of Menhir, the second month of winter, and four days afterward, the Festival of Victory. This fell just before the spring equinox in 110 B.C.E. (when the walls at Edfu were engraved).

• Language: English
• Publisher: DTTV PUBLICATIONS
• Release date: Apr 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201543464

Asher Benowitz

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

Book preview

ASHER BENOWITZ

At Thebes and Saqqara , graven images of Egyptian priests are clad in stiff ceremonial robes and hint at the eternal rewards that will await them in the sacred regions if they remain devoted to the gods. When we enter these sites, we can read long lists of titles the ancient clergy achieved, years spent serving at the temples, and noble deeds accomplished in their towns and cities. Despite their verbosity, they lack the information to tell us about the specifics of this very honorable tradition, how they filled their days and nights, and what inspired their pursuit of spirituality.

We would err by viewing the Egyptian Temple merely as an imposing edifice governed by a regimented clergy who followed a collection of liturgical recipes derived from archaic, lifeless traditions. The monuments we see today-temples, tombs, and pyramids-reflect ancient Egypt's fundamental, vital notion, the transformation of the human condition into divine substance. We have also seen how each of the monuments dispensed a particular aspect of this Sacred Science through the distinctive practices of the Solar, Lunar, and Stellar temple traditions. It was only possible with the active participation of highly trained participants in the technology of these traditions and who were capable of transmitting it consistently and reliably. This process involved stamina, devotion, and a level of wellbeing that could sacrifice ambition and restlessness, at least temporarily-one that was content with a routine that was rewarded more by spiritual credit than material reward.

The Divine House offered spiritual and psychological support to individuals and families during significant events in their lives in various ways. A human's participation in the Per Neter was shaped by birth, coming of age, marriage, illness, travel, and death. In the records, there is mention of various services provided at the Temple, from dispensing justice to interpreting dreams. Additionally, a range of public participation options was available, from limited apprenticeship to full-time supervision of temple events.

Even in ancient times, the Greek mystery tradition originated in Egypt, but the specific characteristics of their system did not follow that of Egypt. The Greek schools distinguished three levels of spiritual participation. The Pneumatikoi were true initiates into the temple mysteries, having reached a stage of enlightenment and awakening to the Temple's tradition. At the middle level, the Psychikoi were students of the Temple, learning the various technologies of the tradition. The Hylikoi were the masses at the lowest level, not obligated to any spiritual discipline and least developed in terms of paranormal skills and abilities. Early Christians followed this division of temple membership by establishing separate rituals for their three classes of followers: clergy, communicants, and celebrants.

In the same vein, the concept of three Buddhist jewels of wisdom" represents three traditional paths of spiritual participation, though each is just as valuable and noble as the others. Even though each jewel possesses distinct karma, they are interdependent. Buddhists believe each jewel represents one of the core ideas of Buddhism: Buddha, the ideal human prototype; Sangha, the teachers of wisdom; and Dharma, the practice of wisdom in the world for all people.

In the Greek sense, the Egyptian hierarchy of religious life offered three levels of spiritual development and three forms of practice in the Buddhist sense. Other functions are also described in tomb and temple records. Others fall into intriguing categories that have been pursued underground by philosophers, healers, and metaphysicians since ancient times.

WISDOM FROM THE TEMPLE

Clement of Alexandria (150-215 c.e.) alluded to 42 books by Hermes Trismegistus, the deity of his time regarded as the patron of ancient wisdom. This number of literary works under the guardianship of one of the forty-two Neteru-did exist, though the figure is likely to indicate types of teaching that fell under the purview of the Temple rather than a specific number of books. This library inventory describes the items belonging to the Temple, which were undoubtedly specialties of that religious order. Like Karnak, Dendera, and many other divine houses, the Egyptians record that the Edfu temple was founded in ancient times. The Temple is dedicated to Heru Behutet (his role as heir to the throne of Egypt and protector of the Two Lands), reflecting in its literary collection the dominant concerns of a clergy concerned with the continuation of power through the Royal House and commemorating Heru's victory over evil. According to inscriptions in the library chamber, thirty-seven great works had the Temple, but only the following are mentioned.

Historically, the moral conduct taught at Edfu was based on the courage, loyalty, and self-knowledge of Heru as the standard for students and teachers. Set's influence on this life and the next was also repelled with this book. The Book of Overcoming the Demon-in reference to Heru's enemy, Set-contained more than just the archaic war between these two Neteru. The Set appears as the abhorrent Nile denizen in the Book of Repulsing the Crocodile. The legend and the actual instance of the individual confronting evil were revealed. A belief in losing one's magic was addressed in The Formulas for Repulsing the Evil Eye, a title referring to the evil eye lost by Heru during his confrontation with Set. To render enemies ineffective, the Book of Apprehending Enemies included divinatory exercises to identify the