A Quest for Ancient Alexandria:
The Greco-Egyptian Roots of Western Esotericism
A Depiction of Ancient Alexandria (by Yann Bernard)
The event of a lifetime is in the making. Start preparing now for your attendance at a major conference to be held in Alexandria, Egypt, in 2011 (Sunday June 12 to Friday June 17). The theme of this conference is Ancient Alexandria: Greco-Egyptian Birthplace of the Western Mind. It's an embarrassment of riches, as Alexandria was closely linked with the origins of Hermetism, Gnosticism, Alchemy, Neoplatonism and so much more. From Alexander to Zosimos (and we mustn't forget Hypatia), generations of seekers trod the streets of the city, the first true Cosmopolis.
A case can be made that Alexandria was the cradle of mystical Judaism, Christianity, mathematics and science. The allure of Egypt persisted through the Renaissance (Giordano Bruno paid with his life for promoting the worship of Egyptian gods in 16th century Europe) and into the modern era via Rosicrucians, Freemasons and other esoteric groups. In the early 20th century, remarkable characters like E.M. Forster, Lawrence Durrell and Constantin Cafavy were inspired by the secrets of this city. And to this day, who doesn't love sphinxes?
This event is sponsored by: the New York Open Center, a renowned educational institution that has organized a series of amazing conferences in Europe and North America on esoteric themes; the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern successor to the famous Library of ancient Alexandria; and the Hellenic Society of Alexandria. During the day, presentations will take place in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. All sorts of astonishing events are being planned for the evenings: Coptic hymns, Sufi chants, a candle-lit poetry reading in the apartment of Constantin Cavafy (possibly with a Very Special Guest Indeed), exploration of the Catacombs, and much more. Those of you who have attended previous Open Center conferences have some idea of how great this gathering will be. A stellar faculty of presenters is being assembled. According to the current plan, I will be giving the opening address, and seminars on Ancient Magic and the Hermetica.
The day before the conference there will be opportunity to visit the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. After the conference there will be two tours to choose from: one tour will go up the Nile to visit important sites of ancient Egypt; the other will proceed to Cyprus, the Island of Aphrodite, to explore the antiquities there.
If you have esoteric and historical interests and have never been to Egypt, this is it - wait no longer. If you have been to Egypt, well, this is still it - a once in a lifetime chance to be with like-minded folks in the land where it all began. Do start thinking ahead. You will need a passport that will be valid for at least six months after you plan to depart from Egypt; the citizens of many countries can get the required Egyptian visa upon arrival at the Cairo airport, but you can save some time and hassle by obtaining it in advance from your Egyptian embassy. For further information as the Conference develops, check out this link:
http://www.esotericquest.org/egypt/index.htm
A case can be made that Alexandria was the cradle of mystical Judaism, Christianity, mathematics and science. The allure of Egypt persisted through the Renaissance (Giordano Bruno paid with his life for promoting the worship of Egyptian gods in 16th century Europe) and into the modern era via Rosicrucians, Freemasons and other esoteric groups. In the early 20th century, remarkable characters like E.M. Forster, Lawrence Durrell and Constantin Cafavy were inspired by the secrets of this city. And to this day, who doesn't love sphinxes?
This event is sponsored by: the New York Open Center, a renowned educational institution that has organized a series of amazing conferences in Europe and North America on esoteric themes; the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, the modern successor to the famous Library of ancient Alexandria; and the Hellenic Society of Alexandria. During the day, presentations will take place in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. All sorts of astonishing events are being planned for the evenings: Coptic hymns, Sufi chants, a candle-lit poetry reading in the apartment of Constantin Cavafy (possibly with a Very Special Guest Indeed), exploration of the Catacombs, and much more. Those of you who have attended previous Open Center conferences have some idea of how great this gathering will be. A stellar faculty of presenters is being assembled. According to the current plan, I will be giving the opening address, and seminars on Ancient Magic and the Hermetica.
The day before the conference there will be opportunity to visit the Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara, and the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. After the conference there will be two tours to choose from: one tour will go up the Nile to visit important sites of ancient Egypt; the other will proceed to Cyprus, the Island of Aphrodite, to explore the antiquities there.
If you have esoteric and historical interests and have never been to Egypt, this is it - wait no longer. If you have been to Egypt, well, this is still it - a once in a lifetime chance to be with like-minded folks in the land where it all began. Do start thinking ahead. You will need a passport that will be valid for at least six months after you plan to depart from Egypt; the citizens of many countries can get the required Egyptian visa upon arrival at the Cairo airport, but you can save some time and hassle by obtaining it in advance from your Egyptian embassy. For further information as the Conference develops, check out this link:
http://www.esotericquest.org/egypt/index.htm
Bibliotheca Alexandrina: The conference site.
