Page 96 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

which gave him the opportunity, not only to carry away from the Alexandrian Library, the vast
number of books which are now said to be his, but also to copy notes from a large number of
volumes. Indeed modern scholarship has shown that the writings of Aristotle bear all the marks
of hurriedly copied notes which of course suggests that Aristotle himself copied these notes from
the books of the Alexandrian Library. The historical account of Aristotle's life is incredible.

(iv) It was the custom of ancient armies to capture books as valuable war booty:

When a victorious army takes possession of a country, it is customary for special companies to
search for and seize war booty, i.e., to help themselves to everything that is considered valuable.
The Greeks, among all the surrounding nations, were the most anxious to obtain the valuable
secrets of the Egyptians, in the Ancient Sciences, and it would appear that the greatest
opportunity came to them to accomplish the desire when Alexander the Great invaded Egypt. As
stated elsewhere, ancient invading armies looted libraries, because of the great value attached to
books; and temples were also looted, not only for books, but also for the gold and silver, out of
which the gods and ceremonial vessels were made.

CHAPTER VII: The Curriculum of the Egyptian Mystery System

1. The Education of the Egyptian Priests According to Their Orders

From Diodorus, Herodotus and Clement of Alexandria, we learn that there were six Orders of
Egyptian Priests, and that each Order had to master a certain number of the books of Hermes.
Clement has described a procession of the Priests, calling them by their Order, and stating their
qualifications, as follows:

First comes the Singer Odus, bearing an instrument of music. He has to know by heart two of the
books of Hermes; one containing the hymns of the Gods, and the other, the allotment of the
king's life. Next comes the Horoscopus, carrying in his hand a horologium or sun-dial, and a
palm branch; the symbols of Astronomy. He has to know four of the books of Hermes, which
deal with Astronomy.

Next comes the Hierogrammat, with feathers on his head, and a book in his hand, and a
rectangular case with writing materials, i.e., the writing ink and the reed. He has to know the
hieroglyphics, cosmography, geography, astronomy, the topography of Egypt, the sacred utensils
and measures, the temple furniture and the lands.

Next comes the Stolistes, carrying the cubit of justice, and the libation vessels. He has to know
the books of Hermes that deal with the slaughter of animals.

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Stolen Legacy: Greek Philosophy is Stolen Egyptian Philosophy by George G. M. James
The Journal of Pan African Studies 2009 eBook