DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4668#0115
HI.] The Path of Light. 97
the chief localities on the material Nile repre-
sented the different stages on the Path of
Light, so do the various worships naturally
arise of the spirits exercising the correspouding
functions—somewhat as among ourselves the
water of the Jordan is peculiarly consecrated
to the rite of baptism. Thus with regard to
Annu, the divine birthplace, reference is con-
stantly made to the new birth; Thebes is
peculiarly connected with Amen, the Hiddeu
God; while at Memphis, the key of the
organism was the House of Osiris itself. And
a knowledge of the spirits exercising special
powers in these places, formed a conspicuous
portion of the Ritual in the preparation of the
Initiate for enduring the ordeal.
Had the case been otherwise, indeed; had
the real objects of Egyptian worship been a
mass of deities local and unrelated ; then inas-
much as the form of government was well
nigh a pure theocracy, the authority of the
monarch being derived not merely from his
H
the chief localities on the material Nile repre-
sented the different stages on the Path of
Light, so do the various worships naturally
arise of the spirits exercising the correspouding
functions—somewhat as among ourselves the
water of the Jordan is peculiarly consecrated
to the rite of baptism. Thus with regard to
Annu, the divine birthplace, reference is con-
stantly made to the new birth; Thebes is
peculiarly connected with Amen, the Hiddeu
God; while at Memphis, the key of the
organism was the House of Osiris itself. And
a knowledge of the spirits exercising special
powers in these places, formed a conspicuous
portion of the Ritual in the preparation of the
Initiate for enduring the ordeal.
Had the case been otherwise, indeed; had
the real objects of Egyptian worship been a
mass of deities local and unrelated ; then inas-
much as the form of government was well
nigh a pure theocracy, the authority of the
monarch being derived not merely from his
H