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| The Journey of Light/Creation | |
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| Tweet Topic Started: Mar 16 2009, 10:24 AM (1,437 Views) | |
| Astennu | Mar 16 2009, 10:24 AM Post #1 |
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The most important occasion at the ancient solar temples was the appearance of light, and with it each day the creation was reenacted. It began at the sacred lake, where ritual bathing by the clergy (and in later times by pilgrims to the temple) recalled the emergence of the Sun from the waters of creation. After the purifications, the shrines of the temple were opened to represent the entry of the Divine into the lower worlds and Its coming to rest on the primeval mound of the sanctuary. The Divine would be awakened to the world of life with chanting and the rhythmic cadence of the drum and sistra, while others censed the sanctuary to welcome the Sacred Being into its house. Thus embodied, the Divine Spirit was transported to the ourter court to be bathed in the rays of the rising Sun, symbolizing the illumination of the sacred land and its renewal. The reenactment was thought by the ancients to ensure the appearance of the God's power in the world and the continuation of the Divine Order. To me it is a way of connecting with the Divine, and reminding us of His presence in the world, and a reminder that Aten created all that is. Edited by Astennu, Mar 16 2009, 10:25 AM.
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| Astennu | Mar 16 2009, 02:01 PM Post #2 |
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I find it interesting that it was known for certain temples to be built on a hollow basin, which was filled with stones from a former temple in apparent disorder. I have read that there are those who believe that there is some form of order behind how the stones are laid out, but I have yet to make sense of it. I do agree that this was meant to represent a branch of the old temple, or sometimes a rebirth if the old temple was destroyed. Mainly to represent a continuation of the old traditions and for the energy that was present in the old temple to be reborn in a new one. |
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| Davian | Mar 16 2009, 08:38 PM Post #3 |
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Interesting that they didn't simply clear the ruins of the old temple out of the way. I've never heard of this before. Where did you learn about it? |
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"A religion old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the universe as revealed by modern science, might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths. Sooner or later, such a religion will emerge." Carl Sagan | |
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| Astennu | Mar 17 2009, 01:22 AM Post #4 |
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I'm afraid I can't remember the source off the top of my head, as I have read far too many books on ancient Egypt. Give me some time and I can find it again. In its own way, it is logical. They wanted the Gods to continue on from the old temple, and wanted the energies from the old temple to continue on in the new one. |
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| Astennu | Mar 17 2009, 01:56 AM Post #5 |
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From dong a google search I got "The Sacred tradition of Ancient Egypt," which is a book I have read. The way I wrote it and the wording in the book are rather close, so this is definitely one of the sources, but I'm sure I have read this somewhere else as well. I will keep looking, as it will bug me until I find it. |
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| Astennu | Mar 17 2009, 02:12 AM Post #6 |
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Now it is officially driving me crazy that I can't find it. It is, however, very common for a new temple to be built on an old site or for stone from an old temple to be reused in a new one. I had always thought there was a deeper spiritual meaning, and maybe I only read it in that one book. I'm still going to continue the search, as I'm sure I have run across it elsewhere. I will note that I won't be able to post any results for a couple of days, as I will be busy at tomorrow. |
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| Davian | Mar 17 2009, 09:36 PM Post #7 |
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I'll take your word for it. Since Akhnaton thought the old Kemetic gods could be seen as different emanations of the one true God, it makes sense that he'd value the energy of their worship when building his temples. |
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"A religion old or new, that stressed the magnificence of the universe as revealed by modern science, might be able to draw forth reserves of reverence and awe hardly tapped by the conventional faiths. Sooner or later, such a religion will emerge." Carl Sagan | |
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| Astennu | Mar 18 2009, 01:08 AM Post #8 |
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I'm not really worried about proving it, it just bugs me that I can't remember where else I read it. I like to be able to have a good reference, if possible, and I remember thinking that this was a good one. I just can't remember where I read it. This is why I usually carry a notebook in my pocket or quickly open a word processor file to make sure I don't forget. Anyway, I don't know of Akhenaten doing it but I do know it was a common practice to reuse stones from old temples and it has been theorized by those with a spiritual bent that there were more than practical reasons. I must say that I wouldn't be surprised to learn that Akhenaten did do it. I know that I would love to incorporate stones from ancient Atenist temples into modern ones (if only one or two). |
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| Atenrise | Mar 30 2010, 10:10 AM Post #9 |
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Has anyone here ever read through or looked at the "Egyptian Book of the Dead"? |
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| Ankhesenamun | Mar 25 2012, 04:13 AM Post #10 |
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I have partially read the Book Of The Dead of Ani, and I was amazed by the wisdom it contains. Reading it, I felt as if I was back in Ancient Egypt, and the modern world around me seemed to disappear. As to the idea of building some of the stones of an old temple into a new temple, that would have been done in order to carry the energy from the old temple forward into the new one. It is also for continuation, as in: there is no end, life always continues. |
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8:33 PM Jul 10