The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture
The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical
Architecture
Expanded Edition
Moustafa Gadalla
Maa Kheru (True of Voice)
Tehuti Research Foundation
International Head Office: Greensboro, NC, U.S.A.
The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture
by MOUSTAFA GADALLA
Published by:
Tehuti Research Foundation
P.O. Box 39491
Greensboro, NC 27438, U.S.A.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recorded or by any information storage and retrieval system without written permission from the author, except for the inclusion of brief quotations in a review.
This book is a revised and enhanced edition of the originally titled book, “Egyptian Harmony: The Visual Music”, copyright 2000 and 2003 by Moustafa Gadalla, that was first published in paperback in 2000, and in e-book format published in 2003. The name of this book was changed to better reflect the expanded content of the book.
Copyright 2016 by Moustafa Gadalla, All rights reserved.
Publisher’s Cataloging-in-Publication
Gadalla, Moustafa, 1944-
The Ancient Egyptian Metaphysical Architecture / Moustafa Gadalla. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
LCCN: 2016900020
ISBN-13(pdf): 978-1-931446-63-1
ISBN-13(e-book): 978-1-931446-62-4
ISBN-13(pbk.): 978-1-931446-61-7
1. Aesthetics, Egyptian. 2. Harmony (Aesthetics) 3. Architecture—Egypt—Aesthetics. Proportion (Art) 5. Egypt—Antiquities. 6. Egypt—Civilization—To 332 B.C. I. Title.
BH221.E2G26 2016 701.17’0932
Contents
About the Author
Forward by Paul Jeffels
Preface
Standards and Terminology
Map of Ancient Egypt
Part I : Architectural Concepts—Function and Form
Chapter 1 : The Architectural Canon
1.1 Egypt: Temple of The Cosmos
1.2 Ptah: The Divine Architect
1.3 Seshat: Patroness of Builders
1.4 The Building Code
1.5 Design and Construction Plans
Chapter 2 : The Metaphysical Structure of the Universe
2.1 The Energy Realms of the Universe
2.2 The Two Heavenly Courts
2.3 The Nine Components of Man
Chapter 3 : Visitation Sites of The Lower Heavenly Court
3.1 The Lower Heavenly Court
3.2 The Heavenly Helpers
3.3 The Spirited Landscape Architecture
3.4 Composite Entombed Shrines
3.5 Non-Burial Domed Shrines
Chapter 4 : The Sealed Pharaohs Tombs
4.1 The King is Dead—Long Live The King
4.2 The Pharaoh’s Tomb
4.3 Sample Pharaohs Tombs from Luxor
Chapter 5 : Egyptian Temples of the Divine Forces
5.1 The Function/Objective of the Temple
5.2 Components of the Temple Complex .
5.3 The Metaphysical Funnel Conduit Design
5.4 The Generative Significance of Jointing Patterns
5.5 Outer Walls Physical/Metaphysical Protection
5.6 The Organic Foundation Roots of the Temple
Part II : The Physical Manifestation of Metaphysical Concepts
Chapter 6 : Architectural Constituent Forms of Metaphysical Functions
6.1 “False Doors”—The Physical Metaphysical Threshold
6.2 Recessed Walls
6.3 Columns and Pillars
6.4 Capitals of Columns
6.5 Porticoes and Peristyles
6.6 The Organic Colonnades
6.7 The Obelisks
6.8 Statuary Forms
6.9 Roof Forms
6.10 Stylistic Architectural Details
6.11 Stylistic Ornamentation and Decoration
Chapter 7 : The Primary Geometrical Shapes/Forms
7.1 Sacred Geometry of Divine Architecture
7.2 The Egyptian Sacred Cord [tool]
7.3 General Layout of Geometric Shapes
7.4 The Sacred Circle of Re
7.5 Squaring the Circle—The Manifestation of Creation
7.6 Triangles
7.7 The Combined Square-Triangles 3-D Pyramids
Chapter 8 : The Generative Square Root Rectangles
8.1 The Root Rectangles—From Circle to Square to Rectangles
8.2 The Cosmic Solids
8.3 The Generative 1:2 Rectangle—The Double Squares
8.4 Generating Root Rectangles from the Double Square
8.5 The Root Five Rectangle and the Golden Proportion
8.6 Proportioning a Line According to the Golden Proportion
8.7 Neb: The Golden Segment
8.8 The [Whirling Squares] Spirals
8.9 Dynamic Design Applications
Chapter 9 : The Arithmetic Generative Progression
9.1 Number Mysticism
9.2 The Generative Numbers
9.3 Progression of Growth and Proportion
9.4 The Summation Series and the Golden Proportion
9.5 The Cosmic Proportion of the Human Figure
Chapter 10 : Combined—Arithmetic and Graphic Harmonic Design of Egyptian Buildings
10.1 The Harmonic Design Parameters
10.2 The Vertical Plane
Chapter 11 : Harmonic Analysis of Ancient Egyptian Works
11.1 General
11.2 Pre-Dynastic Era (5000-2575 BCE)
11.3 Old Kingdom (2575-2150 BCE)
11.4 Middle Kingdom (2040-1783 BCE)
11.5 New Kingdom (1550-1070 BCE)
11.6 The Last Native Egyptian Pharaoh
11.7 Restorations During Greco-Roman Period (332 BCE – 395 CE)
11.8 Miscellaneous Items
Part III : The Spirited Communications
Chapter 12 : The Animated Metaphysical Images on Walls
12.1 The Active Dynamic Design
12.2 The Pictorial Images’ Metaphysical Significance
12.3 The Wealth of Knowledge in the Egyptian Pictorial Formations
12.4 Metaphysical Meanings of Some Depictions
Chapter 13 : Human Activities
13.1 Temple Organization
13.2 Startup Activation of Images
13.3 Regular Temple Rituals
13.4 The Temple’s Court of the Multitude
13.5 Deactivation of Energy (Defacements)
Appendices
Appendix A: General Plans of Sample Egyptian Temples
Appendix B: Practical Mathematics in Ancient Egypt
Appendix C: Fraction Mysticism
Appendix D: Intentional "Irregularities" In Egyptian Works
Appendix E: Monument Appropriations—Reconsidered
Appendix F: Sample Egyptian Sculpture Works
Appendix G: Concrete Blocks Various Types
Appendix H: The Masonic Egyptian Roots
Appendix I: Egyptian Influence on Modern Architecture
Appendix J: Types and Forms of Mortals' Buildings
Glossary
Selected Bibliography
Sources and Notes
TRF Publications
About the Author
Moustafa Gadalla is an Egyptian-American independent Egyptologist who was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1944. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from Cairo University.
Gadalla is the author of twenty-two pub
lished internationally acclaimed books about various aspects of the Ancient Egyptian history and civilization and its influences worldwide.
He is the Founder and Chairman of the Tehuti Research Foundation (https://www.egypt-tehuti.org)—an international, U.S.-based, nonprofit organization, dedicated to Ancient Egyptian studies. He is also the Founder and Head of the online Egyptian Mystical University (https://www.EgyptianMysticalUniversity.org).
From his early childhood, Gadalla pursued his Ancient Egyptian roots with passion, through continuous study and research. Since 1990, he has dedicated and concentrated all his time to researching and writing.
Forward by Paul Jeffels
The Ancient Egyptians saw divine power and influence in all aspects of life. For them, the life force ran through everything in creation and every aspect of existence. Nothing was separate from the totally integrated, benevolent Universe.
The Ancient Egyptians understood that it is the task of mankind to be God’s stewards, and every aspect of their culture was geared to doing just that to the best of their abilities. This concept was known as Ma’at, and was the central pillar of their understanding. The result was the longest lasting and most successful civilization that the world has ever seen – a civilization that is still influential, and still has many advanced secrets that modern people are trying to penetrate.
Everything that the Ancient Egyptians did was intended to reinforce and support their understanding of this perfect reality: music, writing, mathematics, law, lifestyle, agriculture, and of course, architecture.
Architecture has been described as ‘frozen music’, and just as music obeys strict mathematical rules, so Ancient Egyptian architecture observed mathematical rules that enabled the building of sound structures, some of which still stand after thousands of years, and which contain symbolism that enables the mind to both consciously and subconsciously align with the higher energies of the Universe.
In this book, Moustafa Gadalla concentrates on the role of Ancient Egyptian architecture in linking the minds of the Egyptians to their environment and the higher energies in that environment. You will find in the book many examples of how this was done, and many examples of how beneficial this was for Ancient Egyptian culture.
In these modern times of discord and dissatisfaction with life, we would do well to look at Ancient Egyptian architecture and its role in society. We could certainly benefit from these methods today!
Paul Jeffels
Board Member of Tehuti Research Foundation
Derby
England
UK
Preface
Everything that the Ancient Egyptians built/molded/ sculptured was for the purpose of generating energies and/or to embody energies. And just like our electrical system that needs activation by turning on a switch, all Egyptian works also require/required activation by the right actions [sounds, gestures, etc.]. And while these ‘stone’ marvels appear static because they appear stationary, they are no different than [stationary] energy-generating units like our solar panels, that absorb solar energy from the sun and convert it to energy supplies for our earthly human needs.
This book reveals the Ancient Egyptian knowledge of harmonic proportion, sacred geometry, and number mysticism, as manifested in their texts, temples, tombs, art, etc., throughout their known history. It shows how the Egyptians designed their buildings to generate cosmic energy, and the mystical applications of numbers in Egyptian works. The book explains in detail the harmonic proportions of about 20 Ancient Egyptian buildings throughout their recorded history.
It is the aim of this book to provide such an exposition; one which, while based on sound scholarship, will present the issues in language comprehensible to non-specialist readers. Technical terms have been kept to a minimum. These are explained, as non technically as possible, in the glossary. This Expanded Edition of the book is divided into three parts containing a total of 13 chapters, as well as 10 appendices, A through I.
Part I: Architectural Concepts—Function and Form consists of five chapters—1 through 5:
Chapter 1: The Architectural Canon will cover the deep-rooted Egyptian beliefs of ‘As above So below’ and its application to Egyptian art and architecture and the existence and adherence to a divine building code, as well as utilizing design and construction plans prior to as well as during the construction stages, which extended over several centuries for large projects.
Chapter 2: The Metaphysical Structure of the Universe will cover the realms of creation and its correspondence in Man as the image of all creation.
Chapter 3: Visitation Sites of The Lower Heavenly Court will cover the interactions between earthly living beings and the lower realms of the metaphysical cosmic structure, the significance of landscape architecture in such interactions, and the major types of visitation buildings (both burial and non-burial sites) to facilitate such interactions.
Chapter 4: The Sealed Pharaohs’ Tombs will cover the concept and role of the pharaohs which requires their tombs to be sealed and inaccessible for further communications after their earthly existence, as well as giving samples of some pharaoniac tombs.
Chapter 5: Egyptian Temples of the Divine Forces will cover the main function of Egyptian temples (being divine generation), the overall conceptual temple layout, the metaphysical funnel conduit design, the generative significance of jointing patterns, outer walls’ physical/metaphysical protection, and the organic foundation roots of the Egyptian temple.
Part II: The Physical Manifestation of Metaphysical Concepts consists of five chapters, 6 through 11:
Chapter 6: Architectural Constituent Forms of Metaphysical Functions will cover the various architectural forms as manifestation of their corresponding functions [both physically and metaphysically] for “false doors”, recessed wall panels, columns and pillars, capitals of columns, porticoes, peristyles, colonnade formations at four different locations, obelisks, statuary images, various roof forms (flat, gable, corbelled, arch and vaulted), stylistic architectural details (architrave, cornice, and torus) and stylistic ornamentation and decoration such as starry ceilings, floral, geometric, figurative, or a combination of two or all three, guilloche (misnamed as the Tuscan border), chevron, and scroll patterns.
Chapter 7: The Primary Geometrical Shapes/Forms will cover the principles and application of sacred geometry of Divine Architecture, the Egyptian sacred cord [tool], a general layout of sample geometric shapes, the sacred circle as the archetype of Creation, squaring the circle, the primary triangles, and the combined square-triangle 3-D pyramids.
Chapter 8: The Generative Square Root Rectangles—”Irrational numbers” will cover the generative root rectangles as the hypotenuse of right angle triangles, beginning with a square and generating square roots of 2, 3 and 5; the formation of cosmic solids; the generation of the Golden Proportion from the root five rectangle; the construction of whirling square spirals; and example applications of this form of dynamic design to four locations in Ancient Egyptian monuments.
Chapter 9: The Arithmetic Generative Progression will cover the role of numbers as generators of orderly growth and progression, the Summation Series and the Golden Proportion, and the Cosmic Proportion of the Human Figure.
Chapter 10: Combined—Arithmetic and Graphic Harmonic Design of Egyptian Buildings will cover combining both the arithmetic and graphic elements into a harmonic design of the parts and the whole of an Egyptian temple that includes: active axes, significant points, the telescopic triangles, and rectangular perimeters in both the horizontal and vertical planes.
Chapter 11: Harmonic Analysis of Ancient Egyptian Works will cover several examples from Ancient Egypt from all eras and throughout Egypt that show Egyptian applications of the design elements discussed in this book. Examples include temples, tombs, pyramids, shrines, capitals of columns, stelae, pylons, and doorways.
Part III: The Spirited Communications has two chapters—12 and 13:
Chapter 12: The Animated Metaphy
sical Images on Walls will cover the metaphysical significance of wall decorations as well as explanations of various depictions.
Chapter 13: Human Activities will cover the roles of humans in activating, maintaining, and participating in various rituals and festivities as well as deactivating the powers of the temple when temples and the whole of Egypt is under siege.
Appendices has ten appendices, A through J:
Appendix A: General Plans of Sample Egyptian Temples covers layout plans of several Egyptian temples, with a short description of each.
Appendix B: Practical Mathematics in Ancient Egypt refers to the four most recognized Ancient Egyptian “mathematical” papyri and the practical mathematical contents within such papyri.
Appendix C: Fraction Mysticism covers the reasons that, in Egypt, a fraction—any fraction—could only be a fraction of unity and Egyptian tables to deal with “complex’ fractions which are similar to modern Logarithmic Tables.
Appendix D: Intentional “Irregularities” In Egyptian Works covers the religious reasons for what seems to be “irregularities” in the highly-executed Egyptian works.
Appendix E: Monument Appropriations Reconsidered clarifies what appears to be monument appropriation by one pharaoh, of another.
Appendix F: Sample Egyptian Sculpture Works covers a very short list of recognizable Egyptian sculptures.
Appendix G: Concrete Blocks Various Types covers the advanced Egyptian knowledge of concrete mixes and application examples of such knowledge throughout Ancient Egypt.