by Rabenschwarz

Created on: March 05, 2007   Last Updated: November 25, 2008

The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is located in San Jose, California and was founded in 1928 by Dr. Lewis, Imperator of AMORC, the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosea Crucia. The Rosicrucian Order is a philosophical organization that traces it's esoteric origins back to the days of Ancient Egypt. Due to this connection Dr. Lewis encouraged members of the Order to help fund the Egyptian Exploration Society's archaeological digs in Tell el Armana, the city founded by the heretic Pharaoh Ahkenaten. To show their gratitude for the Order the Egyptian Exploration Society donate several artifacts to the Rosicrucian Order. In 1928, Dr. Lewis began exhibiting the artifacts in glass cases on the second floor of the administration building. Thus was the beginning of what was then called "The Rosicrucian Egyptian Oriental Museum."

Over time the Order began to receive other donations and the museum had outgrown the administration building by 1932. In 1966 a new building was built for the museum. This is the world's only museum that was built in the style of Ancient Egyptian architecture. The museum holds over 2000 artifacts and has the largest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts on the United State's West Coast. There are many buildings surrounding the museum as well as the Rosicrucian Peace Gardens. The planetarium and the Rosicrucian library are built in the Moorish style and are very impressive. The gardens were redesigned in 2004 by Grand Master Peter Bindon and are based off of the 18th dynasty Egyptian designs. The garden is a place of tranquility filled with lovely papyrus plants and statuary featuring Pharaohs, hieroglyphics and fountains. It was dedicated om 30, June 2004 by Imperator Christian Bernard and is dedicated to Rosicrucian values of peace and tolerance.
The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is now seventy seven years old and showing no signs of age as does sometimes happen with exhibits if they are not displayed well. There are four different galleries in the museum. The first in the Afterlife Gallery. It features mummies, both human and animal. There is also a false mummy of a baboon which actually contains a vase inside, canopic jars, several sarcophagus' and one of only three examples of the Apis Bull in the world. This gallery exits into the replica of a rock tomb. The tomb exits to the Daily life gallery, which displays jewelry, weapons, musical instruments and displays of Egyptians going about their daily lives. There are also exhibits on Hieroglyphics including a replica of the Rosetta Stone, the real one is in England, as well as other cultures like the Mesopotamians and Assyrians. The Kingship Gallery is mainly focused on the monarchy, especially those of Armana like Ahkenaten and Nefertiti, including a replica of her famous bust, the real bust is in Germany. The last gallery is dedicated to religious practices and the various Gods and Goddesses including many depictions of the cat Goddess Bast and Sekmet the lion headed Goddess of health and healing. The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is a must see for anyone interested in ancient history and the dawn of civilization.

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