Part 3: Ancient Egyptian Temples
intro | history | ritual | temples | priesthood | religion | crafsmen | bilbliography

In pre-dynastic times, the priest/esses had no stone temples, they worked outside (or later, in mud and dabble temples) and cast circles; hence their name; "People of the Circle". Eventually they had temples of sun dried brick, but still retained the name. During the Dynastic period they were building temples out of stone. Now the stone temples, if you have seen them, are covered with figures of the gods and goddesses and religious texts and invocations. The walls became the psychic circle of protection and were imbued with their own power. Despite the fact that the magical group no longer needed to cast circles for protection from without or raise power within as the temples walls did that, priest/esses were still called the "People of the Circle".

Power spot it was originally built over
The temple, being built over the power spot and with all the magic working in it for hundreds or thousands of years, the power from the spot would seep into the temples walls. This power is still imbued in the stones even if the temple was rebuilt. Ancient Egyptians would sometimes take a temple apart and incorporate the older stones into the walls of another temple. This is a method of getting stones already imbued with power and "precharging" the new temple with power.

The temples themselves, despite having been moved or assimilated into newer temples, are still full of power as the walls themselves are the stone circle of power. If you wish to see this power but cannot go to Egypt visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art for they have the Temple of Dendar removed from Egypt in an exchange program of temple preservation.

Temples and metaphysical spots still in existence today

The Temple of Ra at Heliopolis,built around 1800-1900bce
The temple described by Greek historian Herodutus, was probably the largest temple in the world. The temples' description is as follows: 2/3 of a mile long, a 1/4 of a mile in width, 6 stories tall, and a courtyard big enough for over 4 football fields surrounded by a high, 2 story wall. The entry to the courtyard was through 20 foot high doors encased in gold. The courtyard was made of polished black basalt stones that reflected the stars above. In the middle of the courtyard was a full size tree, its trunk and branches made with Lapis Lazuli, its leaves made with Turquoise. No doubt a most impressive courtyard. The entire temple is now under the suburb of Heliopolis, a suburb of Cairo. A small portion was uncovered 3 years ago, and showed the black basaltic paving stones of the courtyard.

The Temple of Bast at Bubastis
Delta area. Although not much remains there, it still exudes a feeling of serenity and peace there. Center to the Bast cat tradition.

Memphis: Temple of Ptah
also not well preserved, but serene with the ponds of water within the temple enclosure.

Sakkara: The tombs of Ptahhotep and Kaegemni
Extremely magical, housing at one time two of the greatest teachers of Egypt.

The Labyrinth, near the Fayyum
Herodutus described it as having 3,000 rooms; 1,500 above, and 1,500 below ground that was so sacred, no one but high priests could enter the underground rooms. Extremely magical, and what is better, almost no tourists, even at the height of the tourist season! Initiations took place here.

Temple of Hathor at Denderah
Magical place with secret chambers and passageways, Initiation center of Hathor. The Zodiac ceiling was found in the Temple of Hathor at Denerah (original in British Museum, replica in temple).

Osirieon at Abydos
Center of the highest initiations of Osiris (his tomb is located nearby but has not yet been discovered). You can visit the once underground chambers where the initiations took place, surrounded by a pond, with a secret passageway, now under water, supposedly going to Osiris's tombs.

The Ramesseum: west bank of Thebes; Luxor
Sit on the stone throne of Rameses, feel the power, or go find the initiation chamber there (the only one that utilizes a coffin). Highly magical.

The Temple of Hatshepsut,
same general area as the Ramesseum.

Temples of Amon and Mut at Karnak and Luxor;
If size impresses, this will! The courtyard itself can easily hold Notre Dame! Seek out the small temple of Sekhmet (but beware of doing rituals there, Sekhmet is unforgiving).

Temple of Horus, Edfu
Most complete temple in modern Egypt, lots of subtle power waiting to be reawakened, doing a gentle chant in the sanctuary can be heard over the entire temple!

Temple of Isis, Philae
Despite being moved from the original island; still very magical, especially because of the surroundings.

Temple of Shahabu
The Egyptian equivalent of Tantric magic, it's place is unknown, and even to the ancient Priests, it's location was kept a secret.

Oracle of Amon; Siwa Oasis, where Alexander the Great went and never spoke of his prophecy!

The Great Pyramids
Being built for King Khufu, the pyramid is not an important metaphysical spot in and of itself. Although having tombs of the workers around it, the mention its building and use as a burial place, and the providing of food to Khufu by the Keeper Priests who lived there, there is absolutely no mention of it as an initiation place. However, Europeans are impressed by what is large and commanding (it embarrassed the ancient Egyptians) and put greater stock in the Great Pyramid than the Egyptians. Also what with the vast number of people in the occult who have visited there, it now has it's own aura added to it, and most people today can't tell the difference.

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