How do a secret organization and an ancient civilization connect to one another? Let’s find out.
Freemasonry is a fraternity that is rooted in the work and ideas of stone mason guilds, referred to as operative masons, that emphasizes moral development and self-improvement through education. Throughout their doctrines and symbols there are many ties between ancient Egypt and the Masonic networks.
The Myth of Hiram Abiff and the Story of Osiris
The Myth of Hiram Abiff is the basis for the three levels of Freemasons: Apprentice Mason, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. Within this story there are many ties to the Story of Osiris, a central story in ancient Egyptian mythology.
Hiram Abiff
Hiram Abiff was an architect who was hired by King Solomon to build Solomon’s Temple. To complete the project he hired masons to work under him and created three groups based on their skill level and the job they would be doing. The three levels were Apprentice Mason, Fellow Craft, and Master Mason. Three Fellow Craft want his secrets so they hatch a plot to get them. They then murder him inside this Temple after they failed to obtain from him the secrets of a Master Masons. They feel guilty so they bury him beneath an acacia tree. King Solomon finds out and raises him up so that he can complete his role in the Great Work of the universe.
Osiris
The god Seth is jealous of his brother Osiris so he comes up with a plot to kill him to obtain his power. In this plot he uses three conjurers to trap him inside of a coffin and nail it closed. He was thrown into the Nile and somehow ended up trapped inside of an Acacia tree. When his wife , Isis, hears about this she is engraved and sets off to look for him. She recruits the help of the King of Byblos, who eventually finds and frees Osiris from his tree prison. He is then sent to complete his role of reflecting the light of the Sun from the Moon to the Earth.
There a number of similarities between the two stories. Both were murdered by 3 people to obtain secrets and power, acacia trees were involved, and they were reborn to complete their role in the universe. The Freemason’s foundational myth of Hiram Abiff parallels the myth of Osiris, whether intentionally or unintentionally, suggesting the influence of Egyptian mythology on Freemason legends.
Lodges, the Cardinal Directions, and the Sun
Freemason lodges are positioned very intentionally in relation to the cardinal directions, the sun, and their respective roles in the ways the universe functions. For ancient Egyptians, the east represented birth and dawn, south the height of the day and life, west the setting sun and death, and north the realm of the dead and the underworld. For Freemasons, the north represents ignorance, east wisdom, south beauty, and west strength. Freemason’s attention to the sun’s positioning is very symbolic of the Pharaonic traditions and the worship of Re. The daily journey of the sun god Re’s journey from east to west was a metaphor for the cycle of life, death, and rebirth, with the sun’s reappearance at dawn symbolizing the re-creation of the world. The cardinal directions are also associated with the four sons of Horus and the protection of the bodies of the dead to prevent them from being corrupted on their path to the underworld, much like how Freemasons are responsible for helping and protecting their brethren from corruption while they are alive.
During initiation rites, initiates enter through the northeast corner because it is the darkest corner of the building. This represents initiates coming into the proverbial light of knowledge and wisdom in the east, once again highlighting the masonic fascination with using the cardinal directions in a similar fashion to the ancient Egyptians.
Egyptian Hall, Masonic Temple, Philadelphia, PA
Freemasons, the United States, and Egypt:
Freemasons were integral in the designing of Washington, DC and some iconic symbols of the United States. Many of these symbols have ties to Egypt, both iconographically and philosophically. Some of the main architects who designed the layout and original buildings in Washington, DC, were Freemasons so there is Masonic symbolism hidden throughout the city. Some of the founding fathers, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Thomas Jefferson, were Freemasons and integrated their ideas and symbols into their work.
A great representation of Egyptian architecture in American symbolism is the Washington Monument, an obelisk like structure. The main designer and architect of the monument, Robert Mills and Thomas Casey, were Freemasons. Much of the funding for the monument was done by international Freemason chapters whose names are engraved on the building blocks of the main body of the structure
The dollar bill has a number of Freemason and Egyptian symbols including the All-Seeing eye and a pyramid. The All-Seeing eye, which can be linked to the Eye of Horus, represents protection, health, and power for both the Freemasons and the ancient Egyptians. The unfinished pyramid represents the architectural perfection of the pyramids and the importance of strong foundations for the life-long pursuit of learning, which is unattainable, hence the unfinished top of the pyramid.
This sphinx is located on the steps outside of the Temple of the Scottish Rite, an organization affiliated with Freemasons, in Washington, DC. Sphinxes are a symbol of hidden wisdom and secrecy that fit perfectly into the ideals of Freemasonry, a secret fraternity seeking truth and wisdom.
Tying It All Together
Throughout my research, I was able to meet with a Freemason chapter to learn about their traditions and the impact Freemasonry has made on their lives. During this process, I discovered a prolific number of ties between Egypt and Freemasonry that were fascinating. This webpage is a brief snapshot of a few examples of the connections between the two that were the most interesting to me. There are many more examples that could be presented, but there is simply not enough space to create a fully comprehensive story of Freemasonry and all of its ties to Egypt on this one page. I hope have sparked some personal curiosity for you that will lead to more exploration into the world of Freemasonry and its many fascinating secrets!
