Archeological
Evidence for a Cayce Reading about Ancient Egypt
By
Donald B. Carroll
Here it may be well that there be given a concept of what
is meant by the journey, or what journey is meant. As indicated, it, the globe
within the pyramid without, was four forty and four cubits (twenty-seven and one-half inches was a cubit then, or a mir [?]
then). Reading 281-25
This one brief statement in the readings has the
potential for far reaching ramifications for the Philosophies in Ancient Egypt
and the broader information found in the Edgar Cayce readings. This stated unit of ancient Egyptian
measurement of 27 ½ inches, so simple, so straight forward, so unassuming, may
well represent a core representative symbol towards a civilizations goal to
raise one’s consciousness and embody the bringing together Heaven and Earth in
the venture.
One of the objectives of the A.R.E. is to research the
readings and seek evidence of the information found in them. There has been much success in this arena and
in the case of the readings about Egypt a long patient, persistent
investigation that still continues to this end.
This is one such investigation that is bearing fruit. So, let me begin laying out the framework of
this evidence.
Today Egyptology recognizes the general use of two
different Egyptian cubits as units of linear measurement in the civilization of
ancient Egypt. They are the “Royal
Cubit” (Nesu meh) of 20.61 inches (52.35 cm) and the “Little Cubit” (Netches
meh) of 17.5 inches (44.45 cm). It is generally considered that the royal cubit
was used in the construction of temples and monuments. An example of this is the Great Pyramid of
Giza that, when measured by this system, has a height of 280 royal cubits and a
side width of 440 royal cubits.
What is presented here is the evidence for the possibility
that a different unit of measurement, a different length cubit, may have been
used in the construction of pyramids. A unit of measurement of approximately
27.5 inches (69.85 cm). This consideration is based upon the purpose of
pyramids themselves and an identification of a “third” Egyptian cubit,
considered a non-standard cubit. Evidence of this “third” cubit consists of
physical discoveries of it and mention of it, in different forms, in the hieroglyphs. How
this “third” cubit is named in the hieroglyphs also ties into such a purpose of
the pyramids and an early deity of ancient Egypt whose name and purpose links
to the name of this third cubit and the pyramids.
Further the use of such a proposed unit of measurement,
at least for the Great Pyramid, is given support by the research of
Egyptologist, Sir Flinders Petrie.
“The predominance of mason’s measures in the Great
Pyramid has suggested that a variety of measures were in use, some of which do
not seem to be an even number of digits.”
Flinders Petrie, Measures and
Weights (London: Methuen & Company Ltd.1934), p.7
“So there is evidence for independent standards which are
not formed from digits. This may seem unsatisfactory
to anyone expecting a cut-and-dried result; but the subject is new, and it can
only grow by fresh facts which agree with what is already explored.” Flinders Petrie, Measures and Weights
(London: Methuen & Company Ltd.1934), p.8
Since that introduction from famed Egyptologist Flinders
Petrie commenting of a variety of measurements used in the Great Pyramid
construction, let this continue with the defined purpose of pyramids. Dr. Mark Lehner an Egyptologist and
considered one of the world’s experts on Egyptian pyramids has written that;
“…the pyramid was designed to be a cosmic engine… The
mechanics of the pyramid as a cosmic engine depended on the Egyptian concept of
a person and the distinct phases of life and death, called kheperu. These ‘transformations’ continued when the ka,
the ba, and the body, which had become separated at death, interacted in the final transformation
– becoming an akh, a glorified being of light, effective in the afterlife.” The pyramid was an instrument that enabled
this alchemy to take place… (The Complete Pyramids by Mark Lehner, Thames and
Hudson 2008 p.20)
“Joining the stars, the king becomes an akh. Akh is often translated as ‘spirit’ or
‘spirit state’. It derives from the term
for ‘radiant light’.
The reunion of the ba and ka is effected by the burial
ritual, creating the final transformation of the deceased as an akh. As a member of the starry sky,”
The Complete Pyramids by Mark Lehner 2008 p.24
Such important cosmic mechanics and their goal should be
expected to translate into the actual construction mechanics of a pyramid.
First, the celestial, the cosmic mechanics of the pyramid
will be examined. As noted the pyramids
physical “engine” purpose was to unite the Ka and the Ba of the Egyptian soul
to become an Akh (alternatively an aakhu or khu) to live eternally with the
imperishable stars of the Northern skies.
This engines’ spiritual fuel appears to have ties to one of their oldest
deities. The ancient Egyptians recognized a pre-dynastic deity whose purpose
was to perform similarly this function.
The deity’s name was Nehebu-Kau, (also spelt Nehebkau and Neheb Ka)
Nehebkau (Nehebu-Kau, Nehebkhau), 'He Who Unites the
Kas', was a benevolent snake god who the Egyptians believed was one of the
original primeval gods.
He was depicted in the form of a snake with arms and
legs, occasionally with wings. He is sometimes shown holding containers of food
in his hands, in offering to the deceased. Less often, he is shown as a two
headed snake, with a head at each end of the reptilian body.
His name comes from the ancient Egyptian word for 'yoke
together' or 'unite', nhb
The goals of Nehebukau and the purpose of pyramids as
defined by Dr. Lehner appear to be one and the same; with that in mind this
proposal will move to the examination of the physical links that support this
possibility.
The proposed unit
of measurement of approximately 27.5 inches (69.85 cm) has been found at
ancient Egyptian sites.
… the non-standard
measuring rods of 65-70 cm, which were discovered by Petrie at Kahun and
Deshasha, and another similar rod from Lisht. Now it has long been considered
that a measurement of between 65 and 77 cm could be equated with a unit known
as the nbi, which is seldom mentioned in the Egyptian literature and was
generally used to record the amount of work carried out in the cutting of dykes
or the excavation of tombs. Gardiner conjectured that the nbi might be
equal to 1 1/4 or 1 1/3 cubit,[3] and thus gave a name for the measurement of 1
1/4 cubit in the tomb of Tausret.
At this point, however, we have to contend with two recently-published alternative explanations for the nbi measure, both agreeing that the length should be 1 1/3 cubit or 70 cm in opposition to Elke Roik's proposed value of 65 cm, but differing in their interpretation as to the use of this measure. Following his survey of a number of Old and New Kingdom rock tombs, Naguib Victor maintains that the nbi had an architectural significance;[4] while Claire Simon believes that it was connected with the canon of proportion, and was used to determine the size of the grid squares in which the human figure was inserted.[5] The existence of a linear measure of about 1 1/3 cubit is in any case proven for the Middle Kingdom by the three rods from Kahun and Lisht, which vary in length between about 67 cm and 70 cm. These rods are clearly too long to answer to Roik's measure of 65 cm; and since each is divided into seven units, they cannot supply the required dyadic divisions.
At this point, however, we have to contend with two recently-published alternative explanations for the nbi measure, both agreeing that the length should be 1 1/3 cubit or 70 cm in opposition to Elke Roik's proposed value of 65 cm, but differing in their interpretation as to the use of this measure. Following his survey of a number of Old and New Kingdom rock tombs, Naguib Victor maintains that the nbi had an architectural significance;[4] while Claire Simon believes that it was connected with the canon of proportion, and was used to determine the size of the grid squares in which the human figure was inserted.[5] The existence of a linear measure of about 1 1/3 cubit is in any case proven for the Middle Kingdom by the three rods from Kahun and Lisht, which vary in length between about 67 cm and 70 cm. These rods are clearly too long to answer to Roik's measure of 65 cm; and since each is divided into seven units, they cannot supply the required dyadic divisions.
... In addition, the
twenty-two measurements provided by Naguib Victor as proof of the use of the
'rod-70' in a tomb of the Sixth Dynasty,…
3.
A.H. Gardiner, Egyptian Grammar (Oxford, 1957), 199.
4.
N. Victor, GM 121 (1991), 101-110.
5.
C. Simon, JEA 79 (1993), 157-177.
Review
Article - Measurement in Ancient Egypt by John A.R. Legon
(Reproduced
from Discussions in Egyptology 30 (1994), 87-100)
Elke
Roik, Das Längenmaßsystem im alten Ägypten. Christian-Rosenkreutz-Verlag,
Hamburg 1993. 407p, 298 x 210 mm, 106 fig. ISBN 3-929322, DM 129.
Though Mr. Legon disagrees as to the purpose of this
non-standard cubit of 70 cm (1 1/3 royal cubits), his review of Dr. Roik’s
articles does show that such a cubit exists ; discovered by Petrie and has
subsequently been researched by Gardiner, Simon and Victor. As can be seen from these above excerpts
there is firm evidence of a cubit of approximately 27 .5 inches or 1 1/3 length
of a Royal Cubit. As for its’ name it
appears to be nb, nbj, or nbi and its transliteration is debated, though Dr.
Livio Stecchini, in his research believes it was called a nb or nebiu
transliterating it as to yoke or unite essentially as half a carrying yoke. (A
History of Measures, Part II by Dr. Livio Stecchini). Such
transliterations allow the prospect of this unit of measurement to be
associated with the previous noted deity Nehebukau, who unites the ka ad t
ba. Dr. Stecchini also notes of a physical example
of this cubit in the New York Metropolitan Museum.
(Personal photograph MMA Gallery 109) “Egyptian measuring rod”
Period: Middle Kingdom
Dynasty: Dynasty 12–13
Date: ca. 1981–1640 B.C.
Geography: Country of Origin Egypt, Memphite Region, Lisht
North, Cemetery, MMA 1915–1916
Medium: Wood, zizyphus
Dimensions: l. 70.5 cm (27 3/4 in)
Credit Line: Rogers Fund, 1915
Accession Number:15.3.1128
Provenance: Excavated by the Egyptian Expedition of the
Metropolitan Museum of Art. Acquired by the Museum in the division of finds.
(Description by MMA)
It should be noted that MMA describes its length as 27 ¾”
(70.5 cm)
The fact that both Flinders Petrie and the MMA expedition
found examples of this 27 ½ inch cubit in the Lisht area of Egypt, relates it
to the pyramids of Amenemhet I and Senusret I of the Middle Kingdom, more
particularly to the North Side of el-Lisht, the Amenemhet I Pyramid. This is an interesting note as that Amenemhat
I, the first ruler of the 12th Dynasty was trying to revive the Old
Kingdom style of pyramid complexes and their spiritual purpose.
“Picking up
the pieces to resurrect the pyramid age: Amenemhut I incorporated fragments of
Old Kingdom tombs and pyramid complexes in his own pyramid.” The Complete Pyramids by Mark Lehner 2008
p.168
“Amenemhut I
returned to the approximate size and form of the late Old Kingdom pyramid
complex…Perhaps the most remarkable feature is the fact that it included fragments
of relief-decorated blocks from Old Kingdom monuments – many from pyramid
causeways and temples, including Khufu’s….We can only conclude that they were
picked up at Saqqar and Giza and brought to Lisht to be incorporated into the
pyramid for their spiritual efficacy.”
The Complete Pyramids by Mark Lehner 2008 p.168
This evidence infers the possibility of the use of a 70cm
unit of measurement in the Old Kingdom pyramids. Then, as an example, if one
uses it in the Great Pyramid, the results are a height of 210 such cubits and
aside width of 330 such cubits.
Interestingly Egyptologists theorize that the Great Pyramid may have had
210 courses of blocks in its original condition.
The last piece of evidence in this proposal comes from a
unit of measurement in the hieroglyphs.
It is the Aakhu Meh unit of measurement. (See E. A. Wallis Budge, An
Egyptian Hieroglyphic Dictionary, Vol. 1 [New York: Dover Publications, Inc.,
1978], p.25). Could this be another name
for this 27.5 inch cubit? It was noted
earlier about the possible link between the nbj/nb measurement unit to
Nehebukau, who unites the ka and the ba. When this union of the Egyptian soul
occurs it becomes an Aakhu (akh or khu).
As this is the believed purpose for the pyramids, it seems appropriate
that the name of the unit of measurement of this cosmic engine, called a
pyramid, would be related to such purpose as has been defined by Dr. Lehner. This seems to be the case.
In conclusion it can be seen there are multiple sources
that support the possibility of a “third” cubit being used in the construction
of pyramids. These sources range from
evidence that multiple units of measurements appeared to be used in at least
the Great Pyramid, the identified purpose of pyramids, on to the Egyptian deity
who had a similar purpose whose name links it to this third cubit identified in
Lisht where it is known these pyramids were trying to emulate the Old Kingdom
pyramids and their spiritual purpose, culminating with a cubit identified in
the hieroglyphs, the aakhu meh, whose name includes the term for a radiant
being of light, the final purpose of the cosmic engine known as a pyramid. This
evidence makes a third cubit of 27.5” (70cm) worthy of consideration.
Even within the methodology of Egyptology, without the
benefit of the Cayce readings, the evidence is clear, supportive, and
compelling towards the use of a 27 ½ “cubit” in pyramid construction.
The difference with the use of the Cayce readings is not
only the evidence it presents for information from a psychic, higher source,
but the material the readings provide of the deeper meaning and purpose for
this “cosmic engine” called a pyramid.
Rather than a tomb for the ascension of the soul to heaven, in was a
place for initiates to bring Heaven and Earth together within themselves in the
raising of their consciousness.
“The Pyramid is a simulacrum of both the mound of
primeval earth and the weightless rays of sunlight, a union of heaven and earth
that glorifies and transforms the divine king and ensures the divine rule of
the Egyptian household. (Lehner, p.35)
Not in death, but in life this transformation can be
accomplished. Even the Edgar Cayce
incarnation in ancient Egypt provides information as the high priest
“Ra-Ta”. Ra, in ancient Egyptian represents
the sun and heavens and Ta presenting land or earth, and bringing them together
in one.
(For the reason why the length of 27 1/2inches was chosen
and its significance in such initiations see; Venture Inward Oct/Nov/Dec 2011
The Cayce Cubit and the Kundalini – Correlations between cultures.)
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