Nexus - 0306 - New Times Magazine-pages

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Are the ancient Egyptian secrets of creation and regeneration coded into the sacred landscape geometry of Rennes-le- Chateau? Part 3 espite the idea that the Egyptian culture was supposed to have laboured for thousands of years, transforming from the primitive to the pyramid builders, the truth is that there is no local evidence whatsoever to support this. Quite to the contrary, the civilisation appears to have arrived there intact, and in an advanced state of development, from a place as yet unknown, With them came their leg- ends of times even more remote. In these legends were fascinating stories of the interplay between the gods—stories in which they were given various titles, zootype imagery and apparently inexplicable numerical values. It is reasonable that the first of the myths we will examine is the Egyptian myth of the Creation. Here, Nut, the Queen of the Heavens and Mother of the Gods, angered Ra, the Sun God, by secretly consorting with her brother, the Earth God Geb, "the Great Cackler", and "they laid horizontally together". So incensed was Ra by this incestuous act that he sent Shu, great God of the Pillars of Light and the father of Geb and Nut, to separate his children. Shu commanded them to part, which they did, and in so doing performed the first act of creation. Nut's star-spangled body remained forever separated from her brother, arched from horizon to horizon, so dividing the Earth and the sky (see illustrations, following pages). However, a union had already taken place and Nut was pregnant. Knowing this, Ra, in anger, forbade Nut to shed her offspring on any of the days of his year. The Earth's year is believed to have been 360 days long at that time. Some consider this to be one reason why the circle is divided into 360 degrees. Thoth, Lord of the Measures who controlled the movement of the stars, took pity on Nut and came to her assistance. He played the Moon at chequers and won from her a 72nd part of her light, whereby five (360 divided by 72 = 5) days were intercalated to the year. With these additional days available to her, Nut was now able to give birth, and this she did to the pantheon of five gods named Set, Isis, Osiris, Nephthys and the child-god Horus. Isis was queen to Osiris, and it was he who was said to be responsible for the transfor- mation of mankind from barbarism and cannibalism into civilisation. Osiris supposedly moved around the world introducing the people to agriculture and science. During his absence, Isis ruled over Egypt and was greatly revered. Set, brother of Osiris, desired Isis and was also jealous of the power, popularity and success of Osiris. Eventually Set devised a plot to murder him. Set's plan was to construct a chest of exceptional beauty, shaped in such a manner as to fit precisely the body of Osiris. Then he and 72 accomplices would invite Osiris to a ban- quet. Each of them would lie in the chest on the understanding that the one who fitted it best would take it as his own. The plan succeeded, for when Osiris climbed into the chest they quickly sealed the lid and threw the chest into the Nile. On hearing this, Isis was grief-stricken and went in search of her husband's body. Isis had the power to resurrect the dead and eventually she recovered the body. Set, knowing Isis' powers, realised that Osiris would live again. Determined not to be outdone, he cut his brother's body into pieces and scattered them far and wide. The loyal Isis gained great respect from her subjects when they saw the way she would not rest until she had recovered all the parts of her husband's body. Nepthys, her sister, assisted in the search, for despite being the wife of Set she did not approve of his actions and was always ready to help Isis in times of need. Eventually, all the parts of the. body were recovered by David Wood and lan Campbell © 1984-1995 Genisis Trading Co. Ltd Wellwood, North Farm Road High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3DR, England, UK Phone +44 (0)1892 544044 Fax +44 (0)1892 511301 by David Wood and lan Campbell © 1984-1995 Genisis Trading Co. Ltd Wellwood, North Farm Road High Brooms, Tunbridge Wells Kent TN2 3DR, England, UK Phone +44 (0)1892 544044 Fax +44 (0)1892 511301 38 ¢ NEXUS THE EGYPTIAN CONNECTION OCTOBER - NOVEMBER 1996