Page 97 - STOLEN LEGACY By George G. M. James

Next comes the Prophetes carrying the vessel of water, followed by those who carry the loaves.
The Prophetes is the President of the temple and has to know the ten books which are called
hieratic, and contain the laws and doctrines concerning the Gods (secret-theology) and the whole
education of the Priests. The books of Hermes are 42 in number and are absolutely necessary. 36
of them have to be known by the Orders which precede, and contain the whole philosophy of the
Egyptians.

The remaining six books must be known by the Order of Pastophori. These are medical books
and deal with physiology, male and female diseases, anatomy, drugs and instruments. The books
of Hermes were well known to the ancient world and were known to Clement of Alexandria,
who lived at the beginning of the third century A.D.

In addition to the education contained in the 42 Books of Hermes, the Priests gained considerable
knowledge from the selection and examination of sacrificial victims, and the strict bodily purity
which their priestly office imposed.

In addition to the Hierogrammat and Horoscopus, who were skilled in theology and
hieroglyphics, a Priest was also a Judge and an interpreter of the law. This led to a select
tribunal, which made the Egyptian Priest the custodian of every kind of literature. We are also
told that the Science of Statistics was cultivated to the greatest perfection among the Egyptian
Priests. (Diodorus I, 80; Clement of Alexandria; Stromata 6, 4, p. 756; John Kendrick's Ancient
Egypt Bk. I, p. 378–379; Bk. II, 85–87; Aelian, Var. Hist. 14, 34; Clement of Alexandria:
Stromata 6, 4, p 758: John Kendrick's Ancient Egypt Bk. II p. 31–33).

2. The Education of the Egyptian Priests in: A. The Seven Liberal Arts. B. Secret Systems of
Languages and Mathematical Symbolism. C. Magic

A. The education of the Egyptian Priests in the Seven Liberal Arts.

As has already been pointed out, in connection with Plato and the Cardinal Virtues, the Egyptian
Mysteries were the centre of organized culture, and the recognized source of education in the
ancient world. Neophytes were graded according to their moral efficiency and intellectual
competence, and had to submit to many years of tests and ordeals, in order that their eligibility
for advancement might be determined. Their education included the Seven Liberal Arts, and the
virtues. The virtues were not mere abstractions or ethical sentiments; but positive valours and the
virility of the soul. Beyond these, the Priests entered upon a course of specialization.

B. The education of the Egyptian Priests consisted also in the specialization in secret systems of
language and mathematical symbolism.

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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