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Bad experience                 28 January 2005

We would like to share a bad experience we have recently had with a well known French bookshop and publishers, so that others do not have to go through similar unpleasant circumstances.

We publish here books on egyptology and related subjects (as Ediciones MAAT) and we have been selling them in Europe, North and South America, etc. without any problems for quite some time. We request that the payments must be made by cheque sent to our address and made to a specific name we provide due to excessive charges by local banks for other ways to settle the amounts owing.

In all cases and without any exception for several years we have received such payments within a few days, or at most, a couple of weeks.

Four months ago we sent books for a total amount of U$S 272 to Librairie CYBELE of 65 bis rue Galande, Paris, France and shortly after they replied to one of our emails asking them to settle the amount owing, by saying that the books had been received and that a cheque had been sent (as we would find out later, a similar statement to that so often heard: 'the cheque is in the mail...').

When we wrote saying that we had received nothing, they replied that their bank had reported that the amount had been deducted from their account(?). We pointed out that even if a cheque had been sent and intercepted and cashed by others, in those cases banks everywhere are covered against such frauds and that in spite of their problem, the situation was that we were out of U$S 272, plus the U$S 100 spent on forwarding expenses, and being a small struggling publisher, we could not afford having unpaid orders after four months and the books having arrived safely to their premises.

The result so far is that they have not replied to several emails and letter by regular mail demanding payment. A brief phone call proved that they are currently open for business and therefore they received our messages. Being the amount not too high, legal steps are out of the question for basic financial considerations, so we have had to accept that we will never receive the amount they owe us.

As a final note, we sent them an email warning them that if no payment was made we would make people aware of this situation through internet and by other means, as well as letting the local French Embassy know what had happened, but even this message brought no reply at all from these people.

Our message to potential customers of such a firm is what the ancient Romans so wisely used to say: caveat emptor.

Sincerely,

              J. J. Castillos

    (on behalf of Ediciones Maat)

Information about your Institute                 (2 February 2005)

Dear Sir,

I would be very much grateful if you kindly let me know the details about the eligibility for admission to M.A or Mphil course (Archaeology) & scholarship provisions in your University.

I secured 65.25% in my M.A examination (Archaeology) from Calcutta University. At present I’m a final year student in Archaeology (P.G.Diploma) from Deccan College Pune.

So, if you kindly let me know about the above mentioned Information, I will be very thankful to you. Looking ahead for your reply.

Yours sincerely,

Mr.Sayan Bhattacharya - INDIA

archaeologist4n@rediffmail.com

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your message. We do not offer post-graduate programs, we only teach at the undergraduate level. We cannot offer scholarships because our tuition fees are very small (U$S 100 per year) and we get no financial support from the government or private sources. Besides, living expenses in Uruguay are rather high and you would be better off applying at an Egyptian university, like Cairo University or the American University in Cairo, who may offer scholarships and where the living expenses are much lower, besides being in the country where all the relevant monuments are.

Best wishes,

          J. J. Castillos

Sobre su artículo en egiptomanía.com                 (4 Febrero de 2005)

Estimado Prof. Castillos:

Aunque soy biólogo de profesión, tengo cierto interés en la egiptología, sobre todo en la historia tan larga que tuvo esa civilización y en el hecho de cómo la sociedad humana ha sabido adaptarse y sobrevivir por milenios a un medio tan particular como el valle del nilo, usando métodos tan rústicos, pero finalmente tan efectivos, como los que aun podemos observar en diversos medios rurales del mundo.

Quería mostrarle mi apoyo a la nota que publicara en el sitio del IUE y que fuera reproducida en egiptomania.com. Me resulta increíble que a esta altura de la historia, habiendo ya tanta cantidad de información seria y certera sobre la historia, la sociedad, los medios de vida, la escritura y la religión del antiguo egipto, siga habiendo charlatanes difundiendo teorías ya refutadas o inventando nuevas historias fantásticas.

Uno de los medios a los que me refiero es el canal argentino "Infinito". Transmite un programa llamado "el ojo de Horus", donde mezclan algunos datos ciertos con una serie de especulaciones e invenciones que afirman de ciertas, tales como la conexión de los sacerdotes egipcios con otros en la Atlántida o el complejo monumental de Djeser construído para servir de central de energía eléctrica.

Sobre la religión, y tal vez estoy poco documentado para opinar mucho, también creo que hacen especulaciones extravagantes. En ese programa repiten y reiteran que los egipcios creian en la sucesiva serie de reencarnaciones de la que tenían que liberarse. Tal como yo entiendo esa es una creencia hinduísta (karma), no egipcia. Tengo entendido que los egipcios simplemente creían en dos vidas, antes y después de morir y que el ideal era lograr una postvida tan placentera como la vida real, no había ninguna serie karmática que los atormentara con volver una y otra vez al mundo real, más bien amaban demasiado la vida real y de esa forma deseaban tener una vida parecida después de morir. Es como lo interpreto de libros más serios que he leído.

Hace falta una mejor difusión de información seria y científica, no hay dudas.

Saludos,

Bolívar

Bolívar R. Garcete-Barrett

bolosphex@sce.cnc.una.py

Museo Nacional de Historia Natural del Paraguay

Sucursal 1 Campus U.N.A., 2169 CDP

Central XI, San Lorenzo

PARAGUAY

Egiptólogos y Egiptómanos                 (30 de Abril de 2005)

Hola,

Soy un aficionado a la egiptologia y he descubierto la pagina egiptomania.com. En un primer momento lei los primeros textos con ilusion, pero pronto noté el encorsetamiento a que les someten los canales oficiales. Es una pagina con un gran trabajo de revision histórica, pero sobre todo de desacreditación a todo aquel que no comulgue con las ideas de la arqueologia clásica.

Es paradójico que, con el pretexto de ser los únicos con capacidad de valerse de la ciencia, se aferren a las mas trasnochadas teorias, desacrediten las voces que se oyen en oposicion a sus teorias, y sin embargo no sean capaces ni siquiera de nombrar en su pagina datos que no son capaces de explicar, porque simplemente no tienen explicacion y derrochen cientos de lineas atacando a otros investigadores sin la capacidad mediatica de que ustedes disponen.

En sus textos subyace un rencor desmedido hacia todos aquellos que investigan al margen de la egiptologia centralizada, y queda especialmente enfatizada la envidia que les produce que otros recojan los beneficios económicos que a ustedes se les escapan de entre sus ambiciosos deditos.

En esta lucha entre David y Goliath, ustedes tienen los recursos, pero permitanme que les diga que carecen de la objetividad y la libertad informativa que los peyorativamente entrecomillados piramidologos poseen y que confio acabe con su ya mermada credibilidad.

Yo les sugiero que a modo de salvavidas extiendan la mano a los nuevos investigadores al margen de los intereses económicos que les estrangulan la vision mas alla del beneficio economico y comiencen a limitarse a informar en vez de intoxicar con teorias que ya no convencen a nadie ni a base de documentales del discovery channel.

Mando estas lineas sin animo de ofender y con la mejor intención, porque no creo que ningun bando tenga la veracidad definitiva, y hay que poner los hechos sobre la mesa y dejar las desacreditaciones para Gran Hermano.

Limitense a informar, y si no saben la verdad, sigan estudiando (y de paso algun dia salgan del aula y viajen a El Cairo).

Daniel Ruiz (España)

danigozne@hotmail.com

Re: Egiptólogos y Egiptómanos                 (1o. de Mayo de 2005)

Hola,

Por supuesto que Ud. tiene derecho a su opinión y como Ud. la dice, respetuosamente, es atendible como protesta desde su punto de vista personal.

Sin embargo, si nosotros no combatiéramos esas muchas caprichosas teorías de aficionados que se publican en libros o en internet, le estaríamos haciendo un muy pobre servicio a quienes no saben ver la diferencia entre conclusiones sobrias y científicas de los expertos y las fantasías sin fundamento real de esos aficionados.

Según Ud., deberíamos soportar callados que gente diga en libros que las pirámides no eran sepulcros sino templos u otra cosa, a pesar de la evidencia en contrario, o que las momias tienen maldiciones o que había una "casta" sacerdotal egipcia con profundos conocimientos esotéricos, comparados con los cuales nuestra ciencia moderna queda rezagada, o que en el antiguo Egipto tenían energía eléctrica, etc.

Lo que Ud. propone es legitimizar el engaño y la impostura con la que algunos lucran o adquieren efímera fama. No, señor, si actuara así mi conciencia me lo reprocharía.

Extendiendo su protesta a otros campos, y si la misma prosperara, tendríamos a curanderos y hechiceros practicando medicina y matando mucha gente o permitiendo que murieran sin atención médica moderna, sin protestar para no infringir los "derechos" de esos aficionados; o aficionados a la ingeniería construyendo puentes por los que Ud. estoy seguro no transitaría, pues podrá estar equivocado pero sin duda tiene el buen sentido de saber qué es confiable y qué no; o que barberos siguieran extrayendo dientes como en el pasado o que las casas y edificios fueran construidas por cualquiera que pensara que está capacitado para ello o que cualquiera pudiera difundir con total impunidad lo que se le ocurra.

En mi país hay uno de esos "maestros" que con gran descaro miente y engaña, inventó una técnica de meditación "egipcia" que llamó "dabraká", hace que sus discípulos hagan una "danza del árbol" que es también de su invención, construyó una pirámide donde por una módica suma hace tratamientos usando "la energía de las pirámides", ese es el tipo de gente que Ud. pretende amparar con sus dichos, lo que yo rechazo de plano pues es defender cosas que en realidad son indefendibles por el engaño y el abuso de la ignorancia popular que implican.

          J. J. Castillos

RE: Egiptólogos y Egiptómanos                 (1o. de Mayo de 2005)

Hola de nuevo,

Le agradezco que haya contestado al mail que le envie con tanta celeridad. Gracias por su tiempo y por su opinion, que valoro y respeto, sin embargo me gustaria apuntalar un poco mi opinion, opuesta en algunos aspectos a la suya, de forma que pueda conocer algunos de mis argumentos.

Evidentemente no defiendo a ningun farsante ni voy a dar la cara por nadie que no sea capaz de aportar un minimo de pruebas o fundamentos de rigor cientifico, pues que seria de nuestro conocimiento de la historia sin una solida base de comprobacion de los hechos. Sin embargo de algun modo yo pertenezco a esa nueva generacion que ustedes tachan de iluminados que creemos en algo mas que lo que se puede ver y tocar. Lo digo sin rubor y pienso que hablar de egipto sin dejar una puerta abierta al misterio, lo desconocido y la espiritualidad es un error tan grande como decir que ya no nos queda nada por descubrir.

No pretendo que acepte que las obras egipcias eras de una perfeccion y una manufactura brillante incluso para nuestros dias, pero si realmente no ha reflexionado acerca de ello le invito a releer traducciones de textos como libro de los muertos o los textos de las piramides para que descubra que quizas los egipcios eran efectivamente tecnologicamente deficientes, como usteden defienden, pero espiritualmente estaban a años luz de nuestra flamante cultura moderna.

De verdad me reconforta saber que tiene usted una conciencia, porque creo que llevar una publicacion de ese nivel conlleva una responsabilidad moral grande, pero por otro lado me entristece descubrir en sus palabras un escepticismo extremo hacia cualquier corriente alternativa como puede ser la homeopatia, la acupuntura, la reflexologia o las flores de bach, terapias sin el menor fundamento cientifico pero de eficacia demostrada, por poner solo unos ejemplos. De ahi a defender a un tipo que cura con la energia de las piramides, hay un abismo, a no ser que se demuestre esa capacidad curativa, claro está. De tal forma, yo no legitimizo el engaño, y mucho menos el afan de lucro de quienes se aprovechan de los incultos e ignorantes, pero sin embargo defiendo la libertad de información y en la capacidad del hombre para sacar sus propias conclusiones sin necesidad de una pauta global como si fueramos burros en busca de una zanahoria.

Como colofon a mi carta me gustaria aportar algo positivo, ya que entiendo que mis cartas han sido a modo de reproche, pero lo hare a mi manera. Le daré un consejo: Abra los ojos y descubra que hay un mundo mas alla de la medicina moderna, de las leyes fisicas que recien descubrimos e incluso de las que estan por descubrir y que la respuesta a muchas preguntas sobre uno mismo no siempre la tiene el maximo experto mundial en la materia, sino (aunque suene a utópico) uno mismo en su interior.

Es un placer hablar con usted, de nuevo gracias por su tiempo.

Daniel Ruiz (España)

danigozne@hotmail.com

Re: Egiptólogos y Egiptómanos                 (2 de Mayo de 2005)

Hola,

Es común que quienes objeten el rechazo de los egiptólogos profesionales por las llamadas teorías de "alternativa", digan que es porque ignoran la real profundidad de las mismas y las niegan sin haberlas estudiado a fondo. Puede ser el caso de muchos, pues no tenemos tiempo para andar investigando cosas que ya de entrada suenan a disparate, pero en mi caso, en una etapa de mi vida investigué una serie de temas paranormales y "de alternativa" y al poco tiempo me desengañé pues vi que no eran cosas profundas y verídicas sino fantasías de mentes que miran la realidad concreta con ojos poéticos en vez de científicos y por ello dan como hechos cosas que sólo existen en sus mentes.

Si Ud. es feliz creyéndole a esa gente y en la eficacia de las medicinas de "alternativa", allá Ud., respeto su derecho y que algún día arriesgue su vida eligiéndolas (si es honesto y coherente consigo mismo), si se ve aquejado de alguna terrible enfermedad, yo soy un hombre sano y feliz y siempre he confiado en la ciencia, que me ha brindado salud, conocimientos sólidos y honestidad intelectual, que no hallo en esas otras aproximaciones que Ud. parece admirar.

          J. J. Castillos

The Punt of the Ancient Egyptians                 (6 June to 10 August 2005)

Hello,

I have a theory about the above subject and I will be posting it here so interested people can read it and make comments on it:

PRESS HERE TO READ THE FIRST PART

PRESS HERE TO READ THE SECOND PART

PRESS HERE TO READ THE THIRD PART

PRESS HERE TO READ THE FOURTH PART

          Wael Fekry Hasan

          email: waoolfekry7@yahoo.com

Re: The Punt of the Ancient Egyptians                 (10 June 2005)

You say:

"So, I hope that our Forum-colleagues allow me the suitable number of e-mailing times to end-up, before considering the matter as fully exhibited to them .. And at the same time, I hope they do not leave me all-over the time in some dark sea of silence, by letting it come about like a 'Blunt Monologue' .. But instead, I hope for their enlighting-greenery of utterance, which can be by turning the procedure into a 'Brisky Discussion'. If we succeed in reaching this form .. it should be .. for the sake and benefit of civilizational-sciences promotion".

OK, since you ask, and request "not to be left in a dark sea of silence", I´ll give you my opinion about your first two postings.

I live in Uruguay and I am also very interested in the ancient past of that wonderful land, Egypt.

First of all, your style. Your phrases are pompous, unnecessarily complicated by artificial and convoluted turns of phrase, unlike any you find in standard egyptological articles. I don´t know you personally, but they seem the English of a foreigner struggling to express himself in English and bringing into it constructions alien to normal English or by a self-educated native English speaker who has not had a higher education and therefore confuses complicated sentences, overloading them with adjectives as a half-baked attempt at scholarly writing. This makes your statements often hard to follow and your points obscure and vague.

I don´t know where you got the idea that Queen Hatshepsut actually went herself in the famous Punt expedition she sent, you can imagine that for a person in her position, leaving the throne for a long time would be like comitting political suicide... Besides it would be an unheard of participation, pharaohs usually SENT people to those far away places and anxiously awaited their safe return with the goods that the people from such places had to offer.

You talk (write) a lot, promise and titilate as if a lot of new knowledge will come from your inspired pen, but in the end all that you offer is empty talk and speculations you indulge in.

This is not the way academic egyptology works and when you quote people like Velikovsky, largely discredited for so many solid reasons many years ago, and others by authors like Caroline Seawright, who seems to have said that Hatshepsut was the first Queen to reign over Egypt, ignoring other earlier ones like Meryet-Nit of the First Dynasty, Nitocris of the Old Kingdom, Sobeknefrure of the Middle Kingdom, or when you see as a "problem" that Hatshepsut had said that the expedition to Punt that she organized was "unique", when it was common for every ancient Egyptian accomplishment to be (falsely, of course) described as a "unique" event, "for the first time" or "nothing like this had ever happened or was ever done before", empty but self-gratifying boasts, then your attitude appears to be that of someone only superficially acquainted with egyptology but nevertheless, trying to leave your mark with a new "theory".

Fine, if it makes you feel good, but why not leave this to the professional egyptologists and save yourself lots of unnecessary embarrassment?

Sincerely,

Luis Vignolo           luisvignolo@yahoo.com

Re: The Punt of the Ancient Egyptians                 (13 June to 2005)

Dear Signor Vignolo,

To begin with, as modern and intellectual humans, we'd better be kind and hearty to each other, in a better level than that exhibited by your 'start' with me, my Respectful Signor. We, naturally and most likely, should appear like "Two Birds Of Different Nests", .. like the cases of billions of corresponding or chatting people on this planet, .. but we have to be much more patient and much more delicate with each other than what we have shown already, I am sorry to say... I also take liberty to say, that it is not usual for "English Language Writers", to attack each other in a very much escalated level, and in the very first time, like what I read from your pen, or 'key-board', dear colleague. I 'take my chances' and try to refer to some points of my writings, that seem to be taken by you in a harsh or an unfair way, I am sorry to say:

1. During the times of a number of dynasties [ like the 18th, the 19th and the 20th ] .. the length of Nile that was under the control of an Egyptian Pharaoh, exceeded the 1300 kilometers limit. Despite that, Pharaohs did move, numerously, in-land to very far places from their capitals, and frequently nothing happened. The Pharaohs protected themselves with the ideas they deliberately washed the peoples' minds with, about "Being More Than Normal Humans" and "Their Invincibility and Sacredness" ... etc. They were helped by the usual well-known attitude of the egyptian towards his chief, of extreme obedience and nearly 'succumbing' life-style. So, it wasn't so dangerous for Hatshepsut to leave Egypt, when she had to leave to get rid of her personal agony.

2. Caroline Seawright was not right to say that Hatshepsut was the 1st female Pharoah, if she meant that that queen specifically was number one in the sequence, or the 'list', of egyptian queens. There is a slight possibility that she meant that Hatshepsut was "the foremost one" among them, or among those who ruled solely, with no interference from a contemporaneous king. At any case I was quoting her pointed-to phrase, for simply saying that People still knew about that queen, despite all the obliterations.

3. I did not quote Velikovsky in my 2nd part, but quoted what he quoted. I have the right to quote him if I want to contradict him, or if I see something right in his views. He is wrong about many many things, all right, but that doesn't give us the right to cancel all his writings. Right my dear Sir ?

My thanks for your concerned stance...

          Wael Fekry Hasan

Asociación Internacional de Egiptólogos                 (23 de Setiembre de 2005)

Entré a la página web de esta asociación supuestamente profesional:

Asociación Internacional de Egiptólogos

y me encontré con una larga lista de gente cuyos libros había leído, profesores y arqueólogos de renombre, pero para mi asombro también encontré otros nombres, como el de un Dr. Davidovits (especialista en polímeros) que dice que las piedras de las pirámides eran sintéticas, no naturales, sin poder probar de ningún modo tal disparate que casi nadie acepta:

Davidovits

También está el nombre como miembro de un español, Francisco J. Martín Valentín, quien publicó una gramática de la lengua egipcia que fue considerada por otros egiptólogos españoles como llena de errores y que contenía trozos de otras obras similares copiados o adaptados como si fueran suyos:

F. J. Martín Valentín

F. J. Martín Valentín

F. J. Martín Valentín

Me temo que dicha asociación no se hace ningún favor con tales membresías pues no puedo imaginarme a un Colegio de Abogados que tolere como miembros a gente que escriba libros de leyes tomando cosas escritas por otros como suyas y llenos de equivocaciones, en EEUU sé que muchos abogados han sido expulsados y no han podido ejercer más su profesión por cosas no tan graves o como si un Colegio de Arquitectos tolerara como miembro a alguien que dijera que el hormigón armado de los edificios en realidad no es tal sino bloques de piedra natural especialmente trabajados...

¿Por qué en egiptología parece que está bien tener tal gente ufanándose de ser lo que no son? No me parece que tal cosa le haga ningún bien a ninguna profesión.

Atentos saludos,

Sergio                 sergolus@yahoo.com

Re: Asociación Internacional de Egiptólogos                 (25 de Octubre de 2005)

Te comprendo perfectamente y a mí me llamó la atención esa gente en esa Asociación... En el segundo caso que mencionas, me han dicho que ese señor no ha desmentido las muy graves acusaciones que se le han hecho, quizás porque no puede, sino ya lo habría hecho para proteger su reputación. A lo sumo insulta a quienes lo critican. Y hasta parece que lo han autorizado los egipcios a reparar una tumba en ese país... Estamos en un mundo loco. Imagínense la escena en un juzgado: un abogado es acusado de cosas muy graves, una serie de testigos aportan evidencia contundente, detallada y fundamentada en citas directas, a ello el acusado responde con agravios a los testigos, dice que lo quieren "linchar", que es una conspiración en su contra y nada más; ¿qué les parece que va a decidir el juez? ¿Han ustedes alguna vez hallado a alguien que hace estas cosas y reconoce ser culpable? Como dicen en mi país, a esa gente más vale perderla que encontrarla... y no le hace ningún bien a nadie.

Samuel Lerner                 samulern@yahoo.com

A Reply For Signor Vignolo's Comments                 (29 March 2006)

Dear Professor Juan Jose Castillos,

It looks quite difficult to express, here and now, all my Sincere Thanks .. for all that prolonged and heavy posting of a great deal of my redacted parts, on the matter of the "Indian Ocean Mountain of Orient". I understand that all this is costing "electronic space" and money on the behalf of your world-famous forum and society. At the same time - and after all that past time since the posting started - a sensed dense need to make a modified and renewed redacting on the subject has become apparent for some researchers here in Egypt. For example : The idea of abolishing the "classical" thinking of Punt as being in Eastern Africa, and the introduction of a Southern Asian one, has met some good stances already in Egypt, and needs heavy excessive analysis now, which is not present at the moment in my first edition, on your website. Also the subject of the health case of Hatshepsut, seems to need some more caution on dealing with it, than what I've adopted already in the posted parts. it may surprise you Sir to declare that the form of writing itself, especially in the 1st part, needs some 'comforting', with some agreeing in that aspect with the 'annoyed', but concerned, comments of the thankable Signor Vignolo! The fact that he deprived me of his constructive criticism for so long, is not to my joy, I may say. For what I said above, I hope you Sir become convinced of the removal of the already posted parts, untill I be able to send other writings, in replacement. And if it is seen as a better idea, I may send about a completely different subject ( e.g.: The Real Relationship Between Avaris And Waset, or The Newly Found Origins of Egypt And The Egyptians ).

Wael Fekry Hasan               waoolfekry7@yahoo.com

NOTE FROM THE MODERATOR - I hope you will understand that I cannot remove postings to our Forum since such changes would give previous visitors the wrong idea that we can erase with the elbow what we have written with the hand, not a very serious impression, which I am sure we don´t want to convey to others.

What I´ll do is post corrections as you send them to me and so other people will see the evolution of your views, without hiding anything. Remember that we own our silences but we are slaves to our statements.

Perhaps you will find useful a visit to:

Egyptology and Pseudo-Egyptology

Various comments in Spanish and English

We will consider your future postings for the Forum if you wish to deal with another subject concerning Egypt.

Interview                 (3 April 2006)

Dear Sir,

My name is Diana Pena and I am a student at Floresville High School. I am currently enrolled in an Independent Studies class, where I am researching the philosophies of life according to Egyptian mythology. For the course, I am required to interview an expert in the field of Egyptian mythology. Your background and knowledge of Egyptian mythology would bring a different and vital aspect to my paper and presentation that cannot be found in research.

I would sincerely appreciate it if you could answer a few of my questions about the creation of life on earth, how the world will end and what we will expect after life according to Egyptian mythology. I can e-mail the questions to you and you could answer them at your convenience. Thank you for your time and any help would be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Diana Pena

Floresville High School

tigerette162004@yahoo.com

Re: Interview                 (4 April 2006)

Dear Diana,

> 1. What are the prophecies foretold according to Egyptian mythology on how the world will end?

We have to be careful not to let our modern religious or other prejudices interfere with our understanding of ancient very different mentalities and beliefs. Christians should not look for an Egyptian apocalypse or muslims try to see in king Akhenaten a forerunner of monotheism. However some egyptologists think they have found sources (the more specific are very late examples) which involve threats to destroy mankind (and even an actual slaughter of people by the gods) but nowhere a clear and established notion that the world will definitely end some day. That is a christian belief, not an ancient Egyptian one. So I find some attempts at seeing an end of the universe in pseudo-prophetic writings or in threats by gods, to be far-fetched.

> 2. What are the factors and gods significant to the end of the world?

As I said before, I don´t share such views but several Egyptian gods are mentioned in some texts as destroyers of mankind or some of the great gods of creation having second thoughts about going back to square one, so to speak, but even those colleagues who accept an end of our world (not the universe) in ancient Egypt admit that it would be followed by a rebirth. The great god Ra, the goddess Sekhmet, and others take part in these myths but there are several variations according to which doctrine or theology is involved.

> 3. Besides from the idea that man came to this earth from the tears of Ra, what other philosophies are there about how man was created?

There were several schools of thought according to which god was at the centre of creation, the major ones were the ones around Atum or Ra, Thoth and Ptah. For instance, the god Khnum created man in his potter´s wheel, but there isn´t in ancient Egypt the emphasis and details on the creation of man that you find in the Bible.

> 4. What caused the end of Egyptian mythology’s popularity?

It hasn´t ended because it´s very popular among masons, mystics, theosophists and others today, but that applies to small groups of California-New Age-type of eccentrics that have always been among us. Among most people I think it was the conversion of the ancient world to Christianity that gave it its death blow, by banning all sorts of pagan beliefs.

> 5. According to Egyptian mythology, what is the origin of the watery chaos?

As far as I know it doesn´t say it was ever created, from it the creating god emerged and then the creation, to speak of who or what made the primitive chaotic ocean is like asking a christian who made God.

> 6. There is a great emphasis put on the existence of Ma’at, so why is Ma’at a feather and not something else?

Many of the reasons why the ancient Egyptians chose the feather as a symbol for the goddess Maat or a dog for Anubis or an ibis for Thoth are obscure and although some colleagues speculate, since I haven´t found any clear ancient justification for such symbols, I refrain from giving any reason until they become available. Scientists don´t invent but rather search for answers and keep silent until they are found.

> 7. What was the attitude of the Egyptians in relation to reincarnation?

Nothing at all, the idea that the ancient Egyptians believed in reincarnation is a fabrication by modern eccentrics who can´t provide proof from ancient texts. People died and went to the Egyptian heaven or were destroyed by a monster, nowhere they say you could come back, that belongs to other religions.

> 8. How did the Egyptians go about for forgiveness of their sins before the Hall of Judgment? ?

There was no such thing, that is a christian belief. You were either good or bad by your deeds while alive and were treated accordingly. That´s all. However, some believed you could cheat by using magic and successfully denying your "sins", I hope the gods had ways to expose such tricks, but we´ll never know. It´s the eternal struggle of man to achieve power over the gods or nature through magical means, it perhaps helped make them feel less impotent under the absolute rule and power of the gods.

> 9. What would be the reasons that would cause the destruction of man according to Egyptian mythology?

It was like in most religions the evil behaviour of men, although evil wasn´t entirely human since it probably emerged from some of the gods themselves that were considered as evil by certain local cults and by all in late times, such as Set, the enemy of Osiris and Horus.

> 10. If the deceased had already passed the weighing of the heart during the Hall of Judgment, then what is the importance of the deceased appearing to the gods before entering paradise?

Well, the test decided your fate but after being found "just of voice" or "justified" the gods had to formally receive you in "heaven", they were two different steps in your path to the other world.

I hope this will be useful to you. Your questions were interesting, I confess I have NEVER been put in any trouble at any congress or meeting, by my colleagues, it has always been kids with their fresh and inquisitive minds who pushed me into difficulties, so I´ve learnt to respect (and fear a bit) anybody under fifteen more than others. I hope you can get an A+ for your choice of questions.

Sincerely,

J. J. Castillos           juancast@yahoo.com

Various matters                 (24 June 2006)