Originally posted by aginstitall
"Free masonry" was originaly parented in ancient sumaria around 4000B.C by a group of architects who use sacred geometry and Astronomy to build
monolithic structures. This art then found its way to Egypt wear it was attributes to the Egyptian god Toth (and used to build the great pyrimids.)
This is wear a special some one comes into play, Pythagoras ( the Grand father of modren day masonery.) Who studied the art of sacred geometry and
started a group called the Pythagoreans, who followed 5 basic rules.
(1) that at its deepest level, reality is mathematical in nature,
(2) that philosophy can be used for spiritual purification,
(3) that the soul can rise to union with the divine,
(4) that certain symbols have a mystical significance, and
(5) that all brothers of the order should observe strict loyalty and secrecy.
I think that there is some argument to say that the Freemasons prior to becoming 'speculative' were holders of mathematical, particularly
geometrical, knowledge. When it reached Europe, especially latinised Europe, there can be seen a distinct need for secrecy, at that time much
of geometry can be considered heretical. However, there are several possible routes by which the 'sacred' aspect of geometry could have been
applied to speculative Freemasonry and simply because we understand that geometry demonstrates the micro to the macro does not mean that operative
freemasons also understood that in order to do their jobs. They had instruments that had been 'programmed' to that information, therefore they
didn't necessarily know where that programming came from.
The rise of Freemasonry in the west goes hand in hand with the boom in gothic cathedral building, works that ran for decades, centuries even. Much
geometric thought can be seen put into practice in these cathedrals. The name itself has geometric origins.
cathedral (n.)
1587, "church of a bishop," from phrase cathedral church (1297), translating L.L. ecclesia cathedralis "church of a bishop's seat," from Gk.
kathedra "seat, bench," from kata "down" + hedra "seat, base, chair, face of a geometric solid," from PIE base *sed- "to sit" (see
sedentary).
www.etymonline.com...
Interesting thread.
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Originally posted by aginstitall
This group soon split into groups.
1.mathematikoi ("mathematicians"). Or, inner circle.
2. akousmatikoi ("listeners"). Or , outter circle.
Sorry missed this bit. This is very, very similar to the way in which the gnostic christianites organised themselves...presumably there is some
cross-over or correlation there too.
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reply to post by Shar_Chi
Rosicrucian theory still embodies many of the Pythagorean teachings, although it is not really an incarnation of the latter.
An interesting read on the Rosicrucian timeline, and its link to the Pythagorean school is:
thesecret.org...
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