An article published in Mimar Sinan praises the temples of...

An article published in Mimar Sinan praises the temples of Ancient Egypt as the "source of Masonic craft": …The Egyptians founded Heliopolis (the Sun City) and Memphis and according to Masonic legend, these two cities were the source of knowledge and science, that is, as the Masons would say "Great Light." Pythagoras, who visited Heliopolis, had much to say about the temple. The Memphis temple where he had been trained has historical significance.

In the city of Thebes there were advanced schools. Pythagoras, Plato and Cicero were initiated into Masonry in these cities.63 Masonic writings do not laud Ancient Egypt merely in broad terms; they express praise and sympathy for the pharaohs who governed that cruel system. In another article from Mimar Sinan magazine it is stated: The basic duty of the pharaoh was to find Light.

To exalt Hidden Light in a much more vivid and powerful way….As we Masons are trying to construct the Temple of Solomon, so did the Ancient Egyptians try to build Ehram, or the House of Light. The ceremonies performed in the temples of Ancient Egypt were divided into several degrees. These degrees had two sections, small and great.

The small degree was divided into one, two and three; after these the Great degrees began.64 It can be seen from this that the "light" which the pharaohs of ancient Egypt and Masons search for is the same . This can also be interpreted as suggesting that Masonry is a modern representative of the philosophy of the Egyptian pharaohs.

The nature of this philosophy is revealed by God in the Qur'an in the judgment He passed over Pharaoh and his people: "They are a people of deviators." (Qur'an, 27: 12) In other verses, the godless system of Egypt is described in this way: Pharaoh called to his people, saying, "My people, does the kingdom of Egypt not belong to me? Do not all these rivers flow under my control? Do you not then see?..." In that way he swayed his people and they succumbed to him. They were a people of deviators.

(Qur'an, 43: 51-54) Ancient Egyptian Symbols in Masonic Lodges One of the most important things that establishes the relation between Ancient Egypt and the Masons is their symbol Symbols are very important in Masonry. Masons reveal the true meaning of their philosophy to their members through allegory. A Mason, who advances stage by stage through the 33 degrees of the Masonic hierarchy, learns new meanings for each symbol at every stage.