Fifteen minutes of reading enjoyment. Amusing, factual, informative — It Began Bega n In E g y p t ties you to the past in almost every department of your life.
A ROSICRUCIAN EGYPTIAN MUSEUM PRODUCTION
Mem ber: American Association of Museums Egyptian E xplora!ion Society Society Patrón Patrón of S m ithsonian Institulion Fondation Epyptologique Reine E lisabelh lisabelh The International Instilute for tlie Conserva!ion of Nuseum Objeets
Consulting Egyptologist:
Dr. Max Guilmot (Collection arranged under Technical Direction of Dr. Georg Steindorff and Dr. Etienne Drioton)
IT BEGAN II EGYPT prep pr epar ared ed by James C. French, M. A . Former Curator, Rosicrucian Egyptiati Museum
TAXES Copyright, 1953 By Üie Supremo. Granel Lodge of AMORC, Inc. All Righta Rescrved
LITHOGH APHED
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BY THE
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the fertile valley of the Nile, over 6000 years ago, the Egyptians worked in their flelds flelds wa tering flax and grain. As pay for the water, they carried a share of their grain and flax each season to the local ruler who controlled the irrigation facilities of the villages. If they became delinquent in sharing crops, the ruler called on them to demand his pay; otherwise, the flow of water would stop. Th is was the earliest form of of taxation. A record was kept by scratching a picture of a grain basket on the wall of each peasant’s home. home. The n umb er of marks indicated indicated the baske ba sketful tfulss paid. pai d. L a te r d ur ing in g the th e P yram yr am id Age, the Pharaoh appointed officials in every locality of Egypt to collect taxes in the form of produce—grain, lívestock, wines, honey, linens. and other property. Except for the
livestock, the items were stored in granaries and storerooxns, constituting the wealth of Egypt as vested in the Pharaoh. Many of the Egyptian laymen toofc pride in resistiag taxation. taxation. We read that “A n Egyptian blushes if he cannot show numerous marks on his body that evince his endeavors to evade the duties.” Another story tells of an angry deputy demanding, “Why have you not paid taxes?” “Because,” replied the citizen with sad ex pressi pre ssion on in keep ke epin ingg w ith it h his ragg ra gged ed appe ap pear aran ance ce,, “I have not the means.” At this statement he was ordered thrown upon the floor floor and beaten. He pray ed to be be released, but the stick continued to fall. Finally he could could resist the torm ent no longer. longer. At this he was released and taken home by a soldier. The money was paid. The reaction of the wife was: “You coward, you fool! fool! Did you give them the money on the first demand! . . . after fíve or six blows . . . Next year our taxes will be double dou bledd thro th ro ug h y o u r wea kness, kne ss, shame sha me !” “No, my dear,” answered the poor man, “I assure assure you I resi resist sted ed . . . I forc forced ed them to give me at least a hundred blows . .
WIGS AND BEARDS A c c o r d i n g to the historian Herodotus, the ancient Egyptians did not allow the hair ñor the beard to grow except at a time of mourning. The y were habitua lly clean clean shaven, shaven, and and to neglect the hair was considered very slovenly and dirty. If a ma n considered considered of of a low station in life was represented in a portrait, the artist always drew him with a beard, and
even Rameses VII, who was negligent, is pic tured tu red on his tom b a t Theb Th ebcs cs w ith it h a stubb stu bbly ly beard bea rd of severa sev erall days da ys’’ growt gro wth. h. Artificial wigs or headdresses were used on special occasions, or at least tight-fítting caps were wom to protect the shaved heads from the sun. sun. At fírst fírst thought it ma y seem strange that the Egyptians should wear such warm covering as a wig, but when it is realized that the foundation of the wig was a net, allowing the heat of the shaved head to escape, while the hair protected it from the sun, one can see that it was far superior in comfort and coolness to the modem turban. On special occasions the Egyptian gentleman, who went clean shaven in everyday Ufe, wore an artificial beard which was made of hair very tightly plaited and fastened by straps on to the headdress or behind the ears. The Ruler wore a longer beard than his sub jeets; jeet s; and the th e figures figu res of gods are ar e usua us ua lly ll y re p resentad with a pointed beard curled up at the end. Th e same form is often found on the mummy cases, symbolizing the deceased as having become one with Osiris.
LINEN manufacture of linen was considered to be one of the most important industries in Ancient Egypt. Egypt. Linen was was the the preferred preferred ma terial used for clothing although the lowerclass class people wore woolen woolen garments. Wra ps and cloaks were made of wool also. also. Wool was looked looked upon as impure. impure. Garm ents made of this material could not be wom in the tem ples, and the th e dead dea d we re ne ver ve r burie bu rie d in such. On the wall paintings of the tombs, both men and women are seen weaving linen from T h e
flax which was so extensively cultivated. Linen as fine as silk was woven, and the Egyptians were very proud of their skill in its manufa cture. Th e fineness fineness achieved is un belie be lie vab le as the th e thre th re ad s ar e fou nd to be quite perfect, without the flaws which are seen today in even our finest work. The garments of linen of the rich were embroidered. Th e threa d was dyed before before the cloth was woven, making it possible to work in pattems. Immense quantities of linen were used in the mummifying of bodies of people and also animals. In the Rosicrucian Rosicrucian Egyp tian Museum are to be seen many rare examples of linen mummy wrappings from the tombs of Ancient Egypt. Th ey are inscribed inscribed with writings from from the Egyptian Book of the th e Dead, Dea d, with funeral scenes, gods, and goddesses.
MEASUREMENT OF TIME ancient Egyptians were the inventors T h e of the oldest clock in the world, a shadow clock clock.. Because Because Egyp t is a sunn y country, i t is certain that the shadow clock became a popular method of measuring time. Early in the moming at sunrise, the crossbar of the instrument was placed facing the east so that its shadow would fall on the long arm at the place marked “lst Hour” (the first of the six hours to the noon hour) . As soon soon as the shadow of the sun reached the crossbar marking the noon hour, the instrument was at once tumed around facing the aftemoon sun and allowing it to cast its lengthening shadow on the long arm, measuring the time till sunset. According to Breasted, it was from such a be ginn gi nnin ingg th a t the th e tw elve el ve-h -hou ourr day da y atta at tain ined ed its use use in Europe. Th e oldest oldest of of these docks
is 3,400 years oíd and bears the ñame of Thutmose III. It is interesting to to note note that nearly a thousand years later the Greeks began to use the same kind of clock. The ancient Egyptians developed still another method of measuring time, based on the rate of time it took water to flow from a small hole in the bottom bottom of a container. The container was filled and then the water was allowed to to gra dua lly escape. escape. As the level of of the water fell, the hours were read on a scale which had been worked out on the inside wall of the container. This water clock was generally constructed in the form of a seated ape or cynocephalus, an animal important in the symbology of the god Thoth considered by the Egyptians to be th e m ea su re r of the th e tim ti m e of both bo th gods and men. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum has several rare representations of the cynocephalus in its collection, dating back thousands of years.
IRRIGATION Egypt originated the Science of A n c i e n t irrigation. The land of Egyp t in the desert desert pl atea at ea u of th e no rthe rt he ast as t porti po rti on of th e A fric fr ican an continent was really formed by the action of the Nile river. Thro ugh endless ages the
river deposited its annual load of alluvium in the Valley of the Nile, making it truly one of the most fruit ful land s on earth. Because Because of the abundant flow of water which rushed north each summer, after the rains at the sources of the Nile, and inundated the land, the people found that it was necessary to control the river by building dams and dikes. By the use of canals and sluices, swamps became usable. Because of variation in the annual Nile flood, the Egyptian had to take steps to assure, by his own labo la bor, r, a un ifor if or m and an d adeq ad equa uate te supply of of wa ter for the field fields. s. T he paintings and sculptures on the walls of the tombs of Egypt show the peasants bailing up water by the use of the shadoof, at least 4,000 years ago. ago. T he shadoof, wh ich is even now used in Egypt to lift water from the Nile to the gardens and fields, consists of a pole resting on an upright post or beam supported by columns of mud or brick. brick. At one end a weigh t balances balances the bucket attached to a rope on the other end. From th e shadoof shadoof,, the workers carried water to their gardens in buckets attached to yokes strung across the shoulders.
COSMETICS the earliest times, men and women have used cosmetics in the care of the skin and to act as beauty agents. In Egypt, many records are found dating back 3500 to 5000 B.C., showi sho wing ng the th e use of eye paints, face paints, perfumes, and an assortment of various kinds of oils and unguents for rubbing into the skin. The ancient Egyptians were the inventors of the artificial bath. Th ey had a passion passion for cleanliness, dirt of any kind being regarded as an abomination. Baths were taken daily; and priests bathed twice a day and twice during the night. Afte r bathing, perfumed perfumed oils oils and unguents were liberally applied. Sweet oil on their heads and on new headdresses was required during great festivals by all who could a fiord it, an d cakes of oint me nt F rom
were placed on the heads of guests at feasts. These melted and ran down over the body. It was considered a great special honor to be anointed with the oil of Qemi. A startling effect to make the eyes appear large was produced by using green paint beneath the eye, while the lid or eyebrow was darkened by a moist black powder called Koh l. Often the fingers, too, were stained red with henna. Healing qualities were ascribed to the use of Kohl. Toi let boxes boxes ha ve been fo und w ith four separate compartments, each containing different preparations, whose uses have been described as: “for opening the sight,” “for ex pe llin ll ingg tear te ars, s,”” “ for fo r ex pelli pe lling ng the th e flower,” flow er,” and as “daily eye-paint.” The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is exhibiting many ancient beauty articles, such as bronze mirrors, copper tweezers, razors, combs, hair Cllets, and cosmetic jars and containers of every description. description. A most rare “Wooden Tube for Mestchem of Eye-Paint,” is to be seen in the Museum, inscribed with the prenomen of Amenophis III, King of Egypt, 1500 B.C.
THE HARP ancient Egyptians were the inventors of the harp, and it was known to have been in use from the earliest times. times. Th e tomb tomb walls, as early as the fourth dynasty, during the building of the pyramids, depict a great many varieties of of harps. The instru me nt is pic tured tu red as bein be ingg pla yed ye d solo or w ith it h oth er instruments, and also as an accompaniment to the hum an voice voice.. Th ere were a variety of T he
forms, such as the small bow-shaped kind which was carried on the shoulder or one of the same general nature but of médium size, and played by the musician seated on his heels on the ground. Y ery large ha rps as tall as a man and elaborately decorated are to be seen with the musician standing in order to play. These large harps were rested on the ground or were supported by a sort of stand. The number of strings on the harps varied from four to twenty-two. Ve ry little is known of their System of notation, but the number of strings indicate an advanced knowledge of intervals. Music of a high type was taught and performed by the priests, and such was used for religious purposes. purposes. However, it is is certa in that a popular music, loved by the people at their feasts, was provided by professional musicians, and dancers took part in the entertainment. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum has in its collection, a beautiful, rare, and ancient Egyptian amulet thousands of years oíd, de pict pi ctin ingg a h ar p and an d a harpi ha rpi st. st .
MEDICINE E g y p t must be considered the p i o n e e r in the th e Science of medi cine. Unquestionably, the princi pies a s t a u g h t and practiced by Egyptians constitute the foundation of the modera art of medicine. The Egyptian doctors were famous all over the ancient world. The royalty of all nations were treated by them if their skill was at all available. The doctors received their remuneration from publ pu blic ic funds, fund s, and evidently there was a de-
par p ar tm en t of Pu blic bl ic H ea lth lt h —also, —als o, a medic me dic al association at which methods of treatments were develope developed. d. T he ir knowledge of therape utics, surgery, anatomy, physiology, and medi cine was called the secreís of the physician. The Egyptian physician was known to have accurate knowledge of anatomy, the location and functions of the heart, stomach, intestines, and othe r organs. He could trea t fracture s suc suc-cessfully. cessfully. Knowledge of the circulation of the blood is indi in dica cate tedd in the th e Eb ers pa py ru s by the statement, “The heart is the center and its vessels lead to all its members.” The medical prescriptions were written out amazingly like ours, and supported by knowl edge of the countless herbs, as draughts, fomentations, ointments, and liniments suitable as applications for the disease under treatment. Mineral drugs were used, among them one that cann ot be identified identified today. today. It produced produced anesthesia so as to make operatíons possible without suffering. In the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum may be seen a ra re bron br onze ze fig ure ur e of Im ho tep, te p, famous physician to King Zoser of the Third Dyn asty. Fo r his remark able Servi Service ce to the ancient Egyptians, he was deified as “The God of Medicine.”
BOATS ancient Egyptians are said to have bu b u ilt il t th e fir st re al boats. boa ts. Boat Bo at bu ildi il ding ng becam be cam e one of their most important trades and arts, the great river Nile being their highway for travel and commerce. Plin y states states tha t the first boats which the Egyptians invented, were made from papyrus. Th e history of of boats boats and and shíps is revealed in the tombs of the Pharaohs, by w al l p ai n ting ti ng s and an d by m an y wo nd erfu er full models. The oldest literary referentes to reed boats are found in the Pyramid Texts, dating to 2700 B.C. B.C. These Th ese f irst boats we re mad e of of bund bu ndles les of reeds ree ds or bulru bu lru shes sh es,, tie d toge to ge ther th er T he
with fibers of papyrus, and smeared inside with pitch. It was probably into such a boat, boat, that the cliild Moses was placed by his mother. Generally these boats were only large enough to carry one or two people and were controlled by poles pole s or pro pelle pe lle d by th e use of a paddle. padd le. The papyrus boat was thought to be a protection against crocodiles. The larger boats built of acacia wood, with masts of fir and sails of papyrus or linen, did not appear in Egypt until around 1000 B.C. These boats were beautifully omamented with pa inti in ting ngss and an d had ha d spacious spac ious cabins. cab ins. M an y of them were well over 100 feet in length and had as many as twenty rowers to a side for motive power. In the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is a rare model funerary boat, found in the tomb of the Pharaoh Thothmes III, the 18th dynasty (1447 B.C.). I t is made ma de of wood covered with stucco stucco and painted. The figurehead is a flying flying goos goose, e, and a hawk is at the stem . Thothm es III, wearing a blue crown, is seated under a canopy and before him is a table of food and wine. On one one side side of the boa t is painte pa inte d the figure of Anubis, and on the other the prenomen “Mem-Kepher-Ra,” the great Pharaoh’s religious ñame.
EMBALMING the beginning of the dynasties, the F rom ancient Egyptians were known for bringing the art of embalming or mummifying to perfection. Th ey believed tha t the soul soul would retura to the body after a number of years, and it was therefore necessary that the body be pre serv se rved ed,, if its it s ow ner ne r wishe wi shedd to live liv e for ever with the gods. In the earliest times, bodies which had been be en bu rie d be neat ne athh th e E gy ptia pt ia n sands san ds became desiccated desiccated or dried out. out. W hen , however, the first stone-lined tombs were built, the bodies placed pla ced in them th em —w itho it hout ut th e sand sa nd—soon —soon
decayed. On the discovery of this condition. the Egyptians then introduced embalming. Herodotus, ancient Greek historian, mentions tliree ways in which the Egyptians practised tised embalming. In the first, the brain was extracted through the nose; the intestines were removed and placed in Canopic jars which were then put into the tomb with the sarcophagus. The abdomen was cleansed with wine and sprinkled with powdered perfumes, then filled with myrrh and cassia, and then sewed up. up. Th e body body was next immersed up to the head in a bath of salt or natrón for seventy days, after which it was dried out and treated with spices and resin and then wrapped in linen bandages, gummed on the inside, until every part of it was covered. In the second method, a material, called oil of cedar, was introduced, which dissolved the intestines, so that they could be removed witho ut mutilation of the body. body. The n the body was laid in na tró tr ó n u ntil nt il the th e grea gr ea ter te r part pa rt of the ñesh dissolved, leaving only the skin and bones bones.. In the third way , the body was merely salted for seventy days, and then given back to th e rela tives tiv es.. After the body was mummified in one of the above manners, it was placed in a cedar coffin or case shaped in human form.
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The Rosicrucians (AMORC) San José, flalifornia 95114, U. S. A.
SPLENDOR ín
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Full-sized reproduction of the fourth and inner sarcophagus (mummy case) of the famous King Tutankhamen. Th is is the only rere prod pr od ue tio n in th e world wo rld of the costly original, which is to be seen in the Cairo Museum. T he original, original, made of solid gold and inlaid with rare gems, has an intrinsic valué estimated in exeess of $250,000 $250,000.00. .00. It is a mas ter piece of th e an ci en t goldgol dsmith’s art, not to be excelled bv the craftsmen of today. This sarcophagus was encased in three others, each in turn larger, the largest looking somewhat Iike a residence garage. ROSICRUCIAN EGYPTIAN MI'SEUM EXUIBIT San José, C^alifornia
