The Temple of Set II
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Lubicz interpretation of Egyptology, easily available in this high-quality oversized paperback. Preface by Peter
Tompkins, author of #1F. Whereas #2L presents these ideas through the medium of a narrative story, this book is
completely analytical in format. The essence of de Lubicz’ argument is that, in its literature, art, and architecture,
Egypt incorporated an extremely sophisticated metaphysical philosophy which must be intuitively apprehended, not
merely archæologically deciphered. Such a heretical approach to Egyptology has made de Lubicz anathema to
conventional Egyptologists, but they remain unable to refute his propositions.”
2AC. Symbol and Magic in Egyptian Art by Richard H. Wilkinson. London/NY: Thames and Hudson Ltd,
1994. (SKM-1) DW: “This book is a follow-up to Wilkinson’s Reading Egyptian Art. It deals with the symbolism of
form, size, location, materials, color, numbers, hieroglyphs, actions, and gestures. Full of examples, and an
explanation which is both readable and scholarly.”
2AD. Hieroglyphics Without Mystery: An Introduction to Ancient Egyptian Writing by Karl-Theodor
Zauzich (translated and adapted from the German (Verlag, 1980) by Ann Macy Roth. Austin, TX: University of
Texas Press, 1992. ISBN 0-292-79804-0 (pbk.) (TOS-3) DW: “This is a small volume that attempts to fill the gap
between the child-level introductions to the Egyptian language and the standard text, Sir Alan Gardiner’s Egyptian
Grammar (#2X). Written primarily for tourists and museum visitors, it imparts the information required to read
short inscriptions. The material on vocabulary and grammar is both well organized and very readable. The first part
of the book contains a concise description of the writing system, and the second part applies it to several dozen
photographs of inscriptions. It also has a number of useful appendices, including suggestions for pursuing further
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study of the hierogylphs. There are also many workbook-style problems in the text. A good alternative to the more
elementary and dated #2T.”
2AE. SAOC 54. The Mechanics of Ancient Egyptian Magical Practice (Second Edition Revised) by R.K.
Ritner. Chicago: Oriental Institute, 1995. ISBN 0-918986-75-3. (TOS-4) DW: “I was very glad to hear that Ritner’s
revised dissertation is reprinted. Thanks for letting us know, Priest Radtke. It is the absolute best source, with only
two drawbacks. It is costly (US$50). It assumes some familiarity with Egyptian thought/language. If you really want
to do Egyptian magic, you need this book.” From the publisher’s announcement: “To date no comprehensive
treatment of Egyptian magic has focused on the practice of the magician. Both general studies and textual
publications have emphasized instead the religious elements in the contents of recited spells, while the
accompanying instructions, with their vignettes and lists of materials, instruments, and ritual actions, remained
uninvestigated. This study represents the first critical examination of such ‘magical techniques’, revealing their
widespread appearance and pivotal significance for all Egyptian ‘religious’ practices from the earliest periods
through the Coptic era, influencing as well the Græco-Egyptian magical papyri. The author also discusses the
‘pagan-Egyptian’ influence on Old and New Testament practices and in the lives of the Coptic Desert Fathers. The
second edition includes minor corrections from the original edition. ‘This volume is a significant revisionist
approach to ancient Egyptian magic. As a result of a methodical analysis of both the textual and archæological
records, Ritner concludes that the boundaries between ancient Egyptian magic, religion, and medicine were not as
strictly observed as modern commentators believe. Furthermore he categorically denies the frequent attempts of
moderns to define ancient Egyptian magi as a phenomenon dealing with the supernatural, practiced primarily for
nefarious purposes sub rosa by individuals outside of the religious mainstream ... Ritner’s engaging prose style and
felicitous exegesis of even the most arcane material make for easy reading. But more important still, the content of
the work ensures that it will become a vital reference tool for all engaged in any aspect of ancient Egyptian
religion.’ [From a review in Journal of the American Oriental Society 114 (1994) 513].” To order, contact Oriental
Institute Publications Sales, 1155 E. 58th Street, Chicago IL 60637, or call Chris Kahrl (Sales Manager) at (312)
702-9508, or email Chris at c-kahrl@uchicago.edu
2AF. Idea into Image: Essays on Egyptian Thought by Erik Hornung. NY: Timeken, 1992. [Deutschland:
Geist der Pharonenzeit. Artemis Verlag, 1989.] (TOS-1) DW: “This book is the best introduction to Egyptian
thought. Chapters include: Word and Image, Origins, Time and Eternity, Limits and Symmetries, The Hereafter,
The Temple as Cosmos, The Concept of Maat, History as Celebration, Body and Soul. Horning’s books are the best
of the best; any and all are recommended. Originally written in German. He is a Professor of Egyptology at Basil.”
2AG. Seven Faces of Darkness: Practical Typhonian Magic by Don Webb. Smithville, TX: Runa-Raven Press,
1996. (TOS-1) DW: “A study of the magic of the Late Antique Mediterranean with a special emphasis on the figure of
Set-Typhon in the magical writings and practices of that time. Useful for understanding the relationship of practical
sorcery to the process of initiation.”
2AH. The Ancient Egyptian “Tale of the Two Brothers” by Susan Tower Hollis. Norman, OK: University of
Oklahoma Press, 1990. (TOS-4) (SKM-1) DW: “The Papyrus d’Orbiney has a reworking of an Egyptian fairytale
known as the ‘Tale of the Two Brothers’ into a Setian initiatory manual. The papyrus was written for Prince Seti-
Merenptah, who later became Seti II. Dr. Hollis’ book is a great scholarly examination of the papyrus with many
useful, hard-data insights into the nature of life, Set, Anubis, rebirth, and Remanifestation. It may be a bit
challenging to someone new to Egyptology.”
2AI. The Secret Lore of Egypt: Its Impact on the West by Erik Hornung and David Lorton (trans.). Cornell
University Press, 2002. ISBN: 0801438470. (TOS-4) Patty Hardy IV°: “This volume documents the most visible,
persistant, and pervasive legacy of ancient Egypt: esoteric teachings and arts, mystery schools, and secret societies,
architectural tributes and political movements reflecting a view of Egypt as fountainhead of wisdom. For this
perspective he coins the term ‘Egyptosophy’. [This book could also go in RL#4, as a survey of the roots of
contemporary occultism.] Hornung, a Professor Emeritus of Egyptology at the University of Basel, writes that
‘scholarly concern with the esoteric tradition is still in its infancy and stands in inverse proportion to the immense
importance of the esoteric among the general public’ and muses: ‘Are we heading for a new Renaissance in which
Egypt, though in a very different form, will again play a role?’”
2AJ. The Mind of Egypt: History and Meaning in the Time of the Pharaohs by Jan Assmann and Andrew
Jenkins (trans.). Hardcover: New York: Metropolitan Books, 2002 (ISBN: 0805054626). Paperback: Harvard
University Press, 2003 (ISBN: 0674012119). (TOS-3) Patty Hardy IV°: “This history strives to trace and document
transformations of meaning - changes in the philosophy and self-image of ancient Egyptian - using three sources of
evidence: ‘traces’ (material artifacts), ‘messages’ (the content of ins
criptions and papyri, which contain both explicit
and implicit clues to the authors’ perspective), and ‘memories’ (folklore, myth and other narratives of the
remembered past). Each source has strengths and blind spots. With these three sources Assman braids a history of
Egypt from unification to the birth of modern Egyptology - which Assmann views as a victory of the ‘traces’ school
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over rival interpretations of ancient Egypt. But this victory is not the last word: ‘Today we know infinitely more abut
Egypt than did the experts of the eighteenth century. But we are also infinitely less sure of what to do with that
knowledge. Only gradually are endeavors emerging to supplement that antiquarian preoccupation with traces (the
merits of which are beyond question) with an attempt to enter into a dialogue with the newly readable messages of
ancient Egyptian culture and thus to reestablish them as an integral part of our cultural memory.’ Since 1976
Assmann has held a professorship of Egyptology at the University of Heidelberg. Assmann makes points generally
relevant to the Setian interest in Egypt: (a) the West is viewed as having ‘dual foundations’ in Greek classicism and
Hebrew religion, but both of these are responses to contact with Egypt; (b) this cultural legacy of Egypt continually
remanifests and re-informs the West, regardless of the suppressed or disreputable cast given to it.”
2AK. The Literature of Ancient Egypt: An Anthology of Stories, Instructions, Stelæ, Autobiographies, and
Poetry by William Kelly Simpson (Ed.), with Robert K. Ritner, William Kelly Simpson, Vincent A. Tobin, and
Edward F. Wente, Jr. (trans.). Paperback: American University in Cairo Press, 2003. (ISBN: 9774248171). Also
through Yale University Press, 2003. (ISBN:0300099207). (TOS-3). Patty Hardy IV°: “Popular understanding of
ancient Egypt rests on the juxtaposition of impressive images (documentaries portraying the Pyramids, the treasure
of Tutankhamen) with a hostile religious subtext ( The Ten Commandments, The Prince of Egypt). This 500-page
paperback allows the ancient Egyptians to speak for themselves, in tones witty, humorous, reflective, moral,
passionate, and imaginative. As a sourcebook it includes translations of works examined or reworked elsewhere in
the Reading List: ‘The Contendings of Horus and Seth’ (RL#2E), ‘The Tale of Two Brothers’ (subject of RL#2AH),
‘Setne Khaemuas and the Mummies’ (RL#F2A), and ‘The Story of Sinuhe’ (RL#F1A).”
* * *
F2A. The Mummy. Universal, 1932. MA: “The first and best of many ‘mummy/monster’ films, The Mummy
actually involved more research and subtle allusions than most of the viewing public is aware of. The ‘Scroll of
Thoth’ in the film was taken from #18C, and the mummy himself was named after Imhotep, legendary architect of
the Pyramid of Zoser. Makeup by Jack Pierce, the Universal wizard responsible for most of the classic film-monsters
of the 1930s, such as the Frankenstein monster and the Chaney wolf-man. Edward Van Sloan makes as crafty an
opponent for Boris Karloff here as he does for Bela Lugosi in Dracula.”
F2B. She. Hammer Films. MA: “There have been eight film treatments of She (cf. #2M), though, as far as I
know, none of the other She -series books by Haggard. The most lavish and most recent stars Ursula Andress as
Ayesha. I have not yet found it as a videocassette, but have seen it broadcast occasionally on television. The last and
best of the seven silent-film versions was shot in 1925 starring Betty Blythe, with cards written by Haggard himself.”
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Category 3: Religion and Dæmonology in Historical Perspective
Religion und Dämonologie in historischer Perspektive
as of February 26, 2003
Today’s philosophical and religious climate derives from the interaction and competition of a
great many schools of logic, superstition, science, and intuition throughout history. It is necessary for
the Setian to acquire at least a working familiarity with such systems, as the information gained is often
useful in the development of both Greater and Lesser Black Magical techniques. Furthermore, while the
original Priesthood of Set did not survive the decadence and downfall of Egypt, many of its
characteristics were either preserved by other cultures or independently discovered by initiates of other
magical/philosophical systems. The works selected for this category are intended to survey the more
elaborate and esoteric concepts of intellectual elites throughout the ancient Mediterranean and Western
European cultures. [See also Category 24.]
3A. Religion in Ancient History by S.G.F. Brandon. NY: Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1969. (TOS-3) MA: “This
book is worth chasing down through a library. It consists of 25 essays on such topics as the soul, national religions,
the Devil, life after death, Dualism, Jewish history to 70 CE, early Christian mythology, Time as God and Devil,
origins of religion, the Akhenaten period, early Christian Gnosticism, and angels. Author a Professor of Comparative
Religions at Manchester University.”
3B. The History of the Devil by Paul Carus. NY: Land’s End Press, 1969 (paperback reprint 1974 by Open
Court). (TOS-3) (SHU-1) (LVT-1) MA: “Still the standard reference work on the topic, containing chapters on the
devils and dæmons of many cultures from antiquity to the present. Included are many perceptive observations on
the concept of ‘evil’ in human behavior. In his Confessions Aleister Crowley remarked: ‘Carus had always interested
me as being widely learned, yet understanding so little. After meeting him, I decided that I liked him for it.’” JL:
“Occultists of ye olden days believed that to know the name of a demon was to have power over him. They were
correct only insofar as their belief was an attempt to define a principle or supposed entity and therefore have the
power to use it through understanding it. In the case of #3B, Carus’ work has placed a name and brief history with
almost every devil for whom one could wish , and with a few for whom one would not. Attractive or otherwise, the
demons in #3B are named, traced, and cross-referenced. The Order of Leviathan member can find historical
background in the book and use it to follow the trail of the Serpent.”
3C. Christian Mythology by George Every. NY: Hamlyn Publishing Group, 1970. (TOS-3) MA: “Another in the
Hamlyn mythology series [see #2A], updated & reissued in 1986 by Peter Bedrick Books. It exposes the origins and
adaptations of Christianity and includes a number of later legends quite at odds with the Bible. The author’s
comments on the psychological need for specific myth-types are quite illuminating. The book is neither pro nor con
- merely analytical. Hence it is an excellent source of data for dialogues with Christians; you can respond to
theological issues on a historical rather than on an emotional, dogmatic, or æsthetic basis.”
3D. The Romance of Sorcery by Sax Rohmer. NY: Causeway Books, 1973. (TOS-3) MA: “Better known as the
author of the Fu Manchu novels [fun to read if you’re into 1890’s ‘Yellow Peril’ themes and heroines who faint a lot],
Rohmer was also an initiate of the Golden Dawn who dreamed of writing an authoritative commentary on the
occult. This book was the result - an empathetic but not-uncritical profile of history’s prominent sorcerers, including
Apollonius, Nostradamus, Dee, Cagliostro, Blavatsky, and Francis Barrett. Written in 1913 and especially
commended by Harry Houdini.”
3E. Secret Societies by Norman MacKenzie (Ed.). NY: Crescent Books, 1968. [Deutschland:
Geheimgesellschaften. Ramon F. Keller Verlag, CH-Genf, 1974.] (TOS-3) MA: “While not as extensive as #3F, this
book has the advantages of being relatively current and attractively illustrated. Chapters on the Mafia, Ku Klux Klan,
Chinese Triads, Freemasons, Knights Templar, Thugs, Rosicrucians, etc. Well-researched and very readable. Three
initiatory rituals (KKK, Mafia, and Masonic) are appended.”
3F. The Secret Societies of All Ages and Countries (two volumes) by Charles William Heckethorn. New Hyde
Park: University Books, 1965. [Deutschland: Geheime Gesellschaften, Geheimbünde u. Geheimlehren. Renger
Verlag, Leipzig, 1900.] (TOS-3) MA: “Written in 1875 and revised in 1897, this remains the major work on the topic.
It does full justice to its ambitious title. In addition to discussing the characteristics of secret societies per se,
Heckethorn includes comments on the clandestine operations of supposedly above-ground organizations (such as
the Jesuits). Literally hundreds of groups are covered. If nothing else, it will leave you with the impression that there
have been quite a number of sneaky people around.”
3G. The Magic Makers by David Carroll. NY: Signet #E-6556, 1974. (TOS-3) MA: “This little paperback covers
somewhat the same ground as #3D and #4C, with the advantage of being less dated. There are chapters dealing with
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the reality of magic, the magical universe, the interrelationship of magic and science, and the national magical
practices of Egypt, Israel, Greece, and Rome. Individual magicians profiled include Apollonius, Dee & Kelly,
Cagliostro, Saint Germain, Agrippa, and Faust.”
3H. The Secret Societies of All Ages by Manly Palmer Hall. Hollywood: Philosophical Research Society, 1928.
(TOS-4) MA: “Available in a variety of sizes and pricetags, this book contains 45 chapters on just about everything
remotely connected with the Rosicrucian/Masonic tradition. Hence there is considerable material on Egypt, the
Pythagoreans, Atlantis, the Cabala, etc. It is admittedly a treasure-house of sorts, but the intelligent reader will note