"Temple of Set Reading List: Category 2 - Ancient Egyptian Philosophy"

"Temple of Set Reading List:
Category 2 - Ancient Egyptian Philosophy" (8/1/88CE)
Reprinted from: _The Crystal Tablet of Set_
(c) Temple of Set 1989 CE
Weirdbase file version by TS permission

by Michael A. Aquino, Ipsissimus VI* Temple of Set
Electronic mail: MCI-Mail 278-4041

In a relatively short span of time, the Egyptian culture went from barbarism
to an advanced and intricate cosmological philosophy. After the fall of
Egypt's initiatory priesthoods - and the extinction of hieroglyphic literacy
- this philosophy survived only in crude and superficial approximations,
often so ludicrous out-of-context that Egypt became a prime target for
romantic fantasy. Not for another two thousand years would its true tenets
begin to be rediscovered, and popular understanding of them is still minimal
- due, in no small part, to the significant dissimilarity between them and
mainstream Western philosophy and mysticism, which proceed largely from
Judaic/Christian assumptions. For the Setian to understand the Temple of
Set, it is first necessary to understand and experience life as the
initiated Egyptians perceived it, then to temper that impression with modern
scientific knowledge.

2A. _Egyptian Mythology_ by Veronica Ions. NY: Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1973
[series updated & reissued 1986 by Peter Bedrick Books]. (TS-2) MA:
"Detailed analyses of the many divinities, religions, and religious centers
of Egypt, this book differs from others on the same subject by not over-
emphasizing the Osirian religion (about which the most information survived,
accounting for the emphasis accorded it by most Egyptologists and
archaeologists). Contains much post-Budge data. Part of an excellent world
mythology/religion series by the same publisher. Other volumes in the series
include: Chinese, African, Persian, Scandinavian, Greek, Celtic, Roman,
Christian, Indian, Near Eastern, North American Indian, Oceanic, South
American, and Mexican & Central American."

2B. _Before Philosophy_ by Henri Frankfort (author of #2Q) et al. Baltimore:
Penguin Books, 1946. (TS-3) MA: "A survey of higher cosmological, political,
and moral thought prior to Hellenic Greece. The section on Egypt, written by
John A. Wilson, summarizes Egyptian cosmology, the concept and functioning
of the state, and various values of life. This material is particularly
helpful in understanding the integration of Egyptian cosmology into the
entire political and social attitude and derivative structures &
institutions of the nation. This book is generally considered the classic
work on its subject."

2C. _From Fetish to God in Ancient Egypt_ by E.A. Wallis Budge. London:
Oxford University Press, 1934. (TS-4) MA: "This is the last major
Egyptological text written by Budge, and it incorporates many new
archaeological discoveries that had not been made when he authored his
earlier works. 545 pages long and extensively documented, it may be
considered his magnum opus. It covers the entire range of Egyptian religion,
with abundant quotes from actual texts and inscriptions. The Osirian cult is
still disproportionately emphasized, however, and the political and social
applications of the religious philosophy covered are not treated in detail."

2D. _The Egyptian Heaven and Hell_ by E.A. Wallis Budge. La Salle, Illinois:
Open Court, 1974. (TS-3) MA: "In this book Budge describes major Egyptian
texts dealing with the Tuat (the 'afterworld') - specifically the _Book of
Gates_, _Book of Am-Tuat_, and other accounts of a non-Osirian orientation.
This material is valuable as a contrast to the more extensive and better-
known _Book of Coming Forth by Day_ ('Book of the Dead'), which treats the
same subjects from an Osirian perspective."

2E. _The Conflict of Horus and Seth_ by J. Gwyn Griffiths. Chicago: Argonaut
Publishers, 1969. (TS-4) MA: "This book contains both extensive quotes from
Egyptian texts and analyses of later treatments of the legend by Herodotus,
Diodorus, Plutarch, and subsequent scholars. It remains the definitive work
on the subject, with a 23-page bibliography. It is out of print, and few
copies exist, so significant material from it will be introduced from it as
pertinent in Temple of Set papers. #2E may be considered a companion volume
to #2G."

2F. _The Dawn of Astronomy_ by J. Norman Lockyer. Cambridge: MIT Press,
1964. (TS-3) MA: "Lockyer, an eminent British astronomer of the 19th
century, developed a theory that the Egyptian gods - and the temples and
artifacts dedicated to them - were closely integrated with astronomical
phenomena. Although he accompanied his argument with extensive
documentation, the theory was initially considered too radical to have
substance. Recent archaeological discoveries have prompted the reprinting
and reconsideration of this book."

2G. _Seth, God of Confusion_ by H. Te Velde. Leiden, The Netherlands: E.J.
Brill, 1977. (TS-4) MA: "This is the definitive analysis of Set in ancient
Egyptian religion and philosophy. Essentially an archaeological reference
work, it includes 150 pages of text, 6 pages of bibliographic entries, and a
section cross-referencing Set to major Egyptian texts. Reprinted [quality
paperback] and revised from the original 1968 edition. Brill has no U.S.
office, so you would have to special-order this work through a bookstore.
Before doing so, write for Brill's current catalogue [and prices in US$],
which also includes many other works of possible interest. Ask for the
English language catalogue. Address: E.J. Brill, Postbus 9000, 2300 PA
Leiden, The Netherlands. #2G may be considered a companion volume to #2E."

2H. _Cleopatra_ by H. Rider Haggard. NY: Harper & Brothers, 1888. (TS-5) MA:
"Haggard, better known as the author of _She_ and _King Solomon's Mines_,
also produced this extraordinary account of Egyptian initiatory priesthoods
and their relationship to the national government. The plot revolves around
the hypothetical survival of a native line of succession, protected by the
Priesthood of Isis, during the Ptolemaic era. Harmachis, last of this line
is charged by the Priesthood to overthrow Cleopatra and reestablish the
Egyptian dynasties. What transpires involves many lessons concerning
initiation, honor, and the responsibilities of a true priesthood and priest-
kingship. Aspirants to the Priesthood of Set should accordingly take
seriously to heart the central theme of this story."

2I. _Ancient Egypt_ by Maurice Maeterlinck. London: George Allen & Unwin
Ltd, 1925. (TS-4) MA: "This essay succeeds in capturing the atmosphere of
Khem to a degree unmatched by other published works. Chapters on life, the
wisdom of the priesthoods, the secret religion, and the spiritual atmosphere
of the land. [Maeterlinck is also the author of #18D.]"

2J. _Development of Religion and Thought in Ancient Egypt_ by James H.
Breasted. NY: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1912. (TS-4) MA: "Breasted was
Professor of Egyptology and Oriental History at the University of Chicago,
and this book is composed of a series of lectures given at a theological
seminary. Although some of the source material is dated, this book covers
the same ground as #2B with greater sophistication and detail. Egyptian
texts are quoted and documented with precision, and appropriate attention is
given to non-Osirian aspects of the national philosophy and to the
integration of the religion with the entire state of being of Egypt."

2K. _The Mythical Origin of the Egyptian Temple_ by E.A.E. Reymond. NY:
Barnes & Noble, 1969. (TS-4) MA: "Primarily an archaeological text, this
book treats the actual construction of Egyptian temples from the myths
surrounding them. Major sections cover actual use of the temples - something
rarely to be found in other works on Egyptian religion - as well as the
legends concerning the conception and construction of specific edifices.
Reymond is precise with his facts; the book is dry but thoroughly scholarly.
Useful as a 'hard archaeological' contrast to #2P."

2L. _Her-Bak_ (two volumes) by Isha Schwaller De Lubicz. NY: Inner
Traditions, 1954. (TS-1) MA: "Although speculative and intuitive rather than
strictly historical, _Her-Bak_ describes the experience of Egyptian priestly
initiation clearly, coherently, and consecutively. The two volumes are in
the form of a narrative story whereby a young Egyptian, Her-Bak, undergoes
both exoteric and esoteric selection and schooling. Included throughout the
narrative are many digressions into the social, political, and cultural life
of ancient Egypt. A wealth of appendices provide more detailed discussions
of some of the key concepts and points addressed in the story proper. The
reading of _Her-Bak_ is a pleasant, reflective, and meditative experience -
so much so that one is occasionally relaxed to the point of head-nodding!
Her-Bak's Egypt seems to be suspiciously free of the interpersonal strife
that characterizes so much of human society. If there is a shortcoming to
this work, then, it is that it doesn't come to grips with 'low' human nature
in the way that #2H, #2M, or Waltari's _The Egyptian_ can do. When all of
life begins to seem like a Booth cartoon, read some _Her-Bak_. [For a more
archaeological treatment of the Egyptian priesthood institution, see #2AA.]"

2M. _Wisdom's Daughter_ by H. Rider Haggard. NY: Del Rey #345-27428-8-195,
1922. (TS-3) MA: "Another approach to the subject of #2L in the form of a
novel concerning the Egyptian initiation of Ayesha, central figure of
Haggard's _She_ and its sequels. The novel's orientation is first Osirian
[Ayesha's initiation is as a Priestess of Isis] and ultimately theistic, but
her use of her priesthood is quite Setian - thus leading her to the
experiences recounted in _She_ and _Ayesha: The Return of She_. _Her-Bak_
this is not!"

2N. _Mathematics in the Time of the Pharaohs_ by Richard J. Gillings.
Cambridge: MIT Press, 1972. (TS-4) MA: "This is a scientific textbook; its
chapters are filled with mathematical formulae and calculations as the
Egyptians employed them. Apart from the purely technical evidence it offers
concerning the high level of Egyptian civilization, it may be considered an
interesting cross- reference with #12E and #12F."

2O. _Star Maps_ by Wm. R. Fix. London: Octopus Books, 1979. (TS-3) MA: "In
this book Fix, the author of #1L, undertakes the somewhat more ambitious
task of making sense out of Egyptian 'out of the body' writings,
specifically with regard to extra-terrestrial life sources and life-after-
death modes of existence. This book has strong points [interesting analyses
of various inscriptions, correlations to the work of Lockyer (#2F) and Lilly
(#19N)] and weak points [accounts of 'astral' experiences of dubious
authenticity and relevance, i.e. Stanford Research Institute (see #19W)].
Yet Fix brings to this study the same sincerity and tenacity evident in his
earlier work; he is trying to make sense of some admittedly perplexing data.
His conclusion is that man is primarily a metaphysical and only
degeneratively a physical entity, and that his eventual triumph over the
physical orientation will enable the initiated intelligence to return to a
universal/ stellar mode of unrestricted existence and consciousness. In this
theme Fix has much in common with most of the initiatory texts and stories
in this reading list category. This book could also be classified in
categories #18 or #19, but is placed here because of Fix' many references to
ancient Egyptian texts and philosophies. A well-researched and argued
hypothesis, not a definitive statement."

2P. _The Temple in Man by R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz_. Brookline,
Massachusetts: Autumn Press, 1949. (TS-4) MA: "De Lubicz, an alchemist [in
the philosophical sense] became an amateur Egyptologist, residing near Luxor
for 15 years. In this book he presents the thesis that Egyptian temple
construction has certain geometric and architectural relationships to the
human body. Further - and perhaps more central to his Egyptological
contributions - he proposes that any study of ancient Egypt prenecessitates
one's personally assuming the Egyptians' philosophical outlook. Otherwise
the monuments and writings convey distorted meanings. The clarity, logic,
and coherence of #2L (written by his wife) are the best possible testimony
to this approach."

2Q. _Kingship and the Gods_ by Henri Frankfort (Editor of #2B). Chicago:
University of Chicago Press, 1948. (TS-3) MA: "A comparative study of the
institutions of Egyptian and Mesopotamian kingship and their relationship to
the respective religious and magical codes of the lands in question.
Relevant to the Temple of Set not only because of the historical material
contained, but also because of its indication that Platonic concepts of the
role of the philosopher-king originated in Egyptian governmental tradition."

2R. _Principles of Egyptian Art_ by Heinrich Schaefer (Emma Brunner-Traut,
Ed.) (John Baines, Trans. Ed.) Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1974. (TS-4) MA:
"From E.H. Gombrich's foreword: 'This book is more than a classic of
Egyptology. Its results must be of interest to art historians,
psychologists, and philosophers who concern themselves with systems of signs
and their role in communication. It constitutes indeed the only attempt ever
made of analyzing an artistic style as a mapping procedure. Schaefer has
successfully reconstructed the key we have to consult if we want to
interpret an Egyptian image in terms of what it is intended to represent.
Put in another way, he teaches us the rules of transformation we must apply
if we want to translate an Egyptian representation into the corresponding
verbal description of a real or imaginary situation.'"

2S. _The Opening of the Way_ by Isha Schwaller de Lubicz. NY: Inner
Traditions, 1979. (TS-3) MA: "A non-fictional treatment of some of the main
themes of #2L by the same author. As is the case with some of the
philosophical dialogues in #2L, the writing style is a bit on the dry side.
Moreover the argument culminates in a somewhat lame proposal for gnostic
Christianity, which is presumably the result of the author's feeling she has
to end up in some kind of mode acceptable to the mainstream of Western
religious tradition [a mistake]. The reader should not be put off by this,
but should approach the text for what it does present competently."

2T. _Egyptian Language_ by E.A. Wallis Budge. NY: Dover Publications, 1973.
(TS-3) MA: "A small, economical, and relatively easy-to-read introduction to
Egyptian hieroglyphics. This book will not teach you to become fluent in
ancient Egyptian, however; for that you would have to undertake more
extensive and exhaustive studies. [Ten years of training was required of
Egyptian scribes.] If you are not deterred, proceed to #2U and #2X."

2U. _An Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary_ (two volumes) by E.A. Wallis
Budge. NY: Dover Publications, 1978. (TS-4) MA: "A reprint of the original
1920 dictionary, which is virtually unavailable outside of libraries. Though
flawed by some later discoveries in hieroglyphic translation techniques,
this remains the most available and easy-to-read publication of this type."

2V. _Symbol and the Symbolique_ by R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz. NY: Inner
Traditions. (TS-4) MA: "An introduction to the vital [as opposed to
rational] philosophy espoused by the author in #2P. This book specifically
addresses the Egyptians' use of symbol and symbolism in representing such
concepts."

2W. _The Gods of the Egyptians_ by E.A. Wallis Budge. London: Open Court,
1904 (reprinted in two volumes by NY: Dover, 1969). (TS-3) MA: "Budge's
survey of the principal Egyptian gods and groupings of gods. Extensive and
pertinent chapters concerning Set and Nepthys (who are usually treated
rather superficially in other books on this subject). A good cross-reference
to #2A."

2X. _Egyptian Grammar_ by Sir Alan Gardiner. Oxford: University Press, 1927
(Third Edition reprinted through 1979). (TS-4) MA: "This 646-page hardcover
book will teach you how to read and write hieroglyphic text, but it is a
difficult and demanding undertaking. There is a dictionary in the latter
part of the book; while not as large as that of #2U, it is generally
acknowledged to be more accurate since it reflects advances in the field
since Budge's time. Currently selling for about L17 in London."

2Y. _Sacred Science_ by R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz. NY: Inner Traditions,
English translation 1982. (TS-4) MA: "This book - the most extensive work by
this author - might perhaps be described as his version of the #2S argument,
supported by a non-fictional treatment of the principles espoused [pardon
the pun] in #2L. It is noteworthy for comparisons drawn to Pythagorean and
Copernican thought. I would assess it as being somewhat more speculative and
subjective than a strictly-archaeological analysis should be, and again the
author's inclination towards an Osirian bias and a resultant Gnostic
Christianity is - as in #2S - apparent."

2Z. _Egyptian Mysteries_ by Lucie Lamy. NY: Crossroad, 1981. (TS-3) MA:
"Lamy was a long-time student of R.A.S. de Lubicz, and her superb
Egyptian/hieroglyphic illustrations, both line drawings and color paintings,
may be found throughout his works as well as in the Her-Bak volumes. In this
slim but elegant treatise on Egyptian religious philosophy - also
beautifully photo-accented and illustrated, she displays her considerable
skill as an author and philosopher as well. In keeping with what I am
tempted to call the 'de Lubicz style', the discussion is marked by serenity
and quiet reverence for the concepts being treated; this is no 'textbook'
that treats the ancient Egyptians like so many interesting bugs to be
dissected. 96 pages - about the size of one of the Hamlyn books. More
diverse than #2A in its treatment of philosophical concepts, and I would say
more insightful as well - but not nearly as systematically organized. This
is a 'browsing and enjoying' book."

2AA. _The Priests of Ancient Egypt_ by Serge Sauneron. NY: Grove Press
(Black Cat Edition), 1980. (TS-3) MA: "Serge Sauneron is a former Director
of the French Oriental Archaeological Institute in Cairo, and has
participated in excavations in Tanis and Karnak. In this 190-page book he
focuses on the concept of the priesthood as it evolved in the ancient
Egyptian culture. Whereas #2L is more intuitive than archaeological, #2AA is
solidly an archaeological work. Chapters deal with: the priestly function,
the world of the temples, the sacred activities, the sacred wisdom, and the
fortunes & misfortunes of the priesthoods. The rise and fall of various
priesthoods over the dynasties is also discussed in some detail, including
the renaissance of the Priesthood of Set during the XIX-XX Dynasties."