The Temples of Karnak

by R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz

More than 700 photographs and line illustrations documenting the ancient Egyptian temples of Karnak. The authors present a magnificent excursion that explores the monuments, ruins, statues, and bas-reliefs from the ancient and highly developed civilization of Egypt.

Genres: Egypt, History

736 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1982

About the author

Known to English readers primarily for his work in uncovering the spiritual and cosmological insights of ancient Egypt. In books like Esotericism and Symbol, The Temple in Man, Symbol and the Symbolic, The Egyptian Miracle, and the monumental The Temple of Man--whose long awaited English translation has finally appeared--Schwaller de Lubicz argued, among other things, that Egyptian civilization is much older than orthodox Egyptologists suggest, a claim receiving renewed interest through the recent work of Graham Hancock and Robert Bauval.

If his view of Egyptian antiquity wasn't enough to place him securely beyond the pale, he also argued that the core of ancient Egyptian culture was a fundamental insight into "the laws of creation." Everything about Egyptian civilization, from the construction of the pyramids to the shape of a beer mug, de Lubicz claimed to be motivated by a central metaphysical vision about the nature of cosmic harmony and an awareness of humanity's place in the evolution of consciousness. As his translator Deborah Lawlor remarks (introduction to Nature Word 47), Schwaller de Lubicz's Egyptian studies are only a part of his overall work as a metaphysician and philosopher.

Born in Alsace-Lorraine, then part of Germany, René Schwaller grew up in a polyglot atmosphere. (He was later given the title "de Lubicz" by the Lithuanian poet and diplomat O. V. de Lubicz Milosz, for his efforts on behalf of Lithuania in the aftermath of World War I.) Alsace-Lorraine has oscillated between French and German rule many times since Schwaller's birth, and this Franco-Germanic blend lends a curious characteristic to his work. As Christopher Bamford (introduction to Schwaller’s Study of Numbers 1) suggests, Schwaller thought in German, but wrote in French. Added to the inherent difficulties of expressing nonlinear, "living" insights in "dead" linear language, this odd combination places many obstacles before a first-time reader. As he wrote apropos the insights into "functional consciousness," presented in his truly hermetic work, Nature Word (129): "Nature had shown me a great mountain, crowned with a peak of immaculate whiteness, but she was unable to teach me the way leading to it."

Readers wishing to grasp Schwaller's insights may feel that they, too, have found themselves at the foot of a very steep mountain. This challenging prospect would not have fazed Schwaller. He believed knowledge was the right only of those willing to make the effort to achieve it, the elite who would endure suffering in their pursuit of wisdom. This sensibility influenced his political views as well.

(extracted from "Rene Schwaller de Lubicz and the Intelligence of the Heart", by Gary Lachman: http://www.unitedearth.com.au/lubicz....)

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sumptuous, Well laid out and reads easily. Explores the esoteric knowledge of the Ancient Egyptians in a manner, a lay person could understand. The best set of photographs you could ever hope to find in one volume.

[Zdenek Sykora · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Temples of Karnak by R.A. Schwaller de Lubicz is an incredible book that left a lasting impression on me. I received this book as a gift from my friend Jaroslav, whom I deeply respect and admire. Jaroslav’s thoughtful gesture made this book even more special to me. Schwaller de Lubicz, whose works I first read over ten years ago, continues to amaze me with his profound insights and unique perspective on ancient wisdom and sacred architecture. His legacy lives on through his remarkable writings, which never fail to inspire and captivate readers like me.

[Abdelrahman Hassan · Rating 5 out of 5]

جيد جدا