GREEK HISTORY
 

I FIRST RED THIS LONG TIME AGO. IT is interesting and I thought at least 2 or 3 of you would appreciate it. It kind of gives me something tothink about- Like.. are we really supossed to treat each other the way we do?
We can all shine with our own light, but aren't we like a puzzle put together? I mean- I just think there is more toit- It is not an accident that we all have something in common-I don't know, please hit me back- This is the kind of things I am into. I was a Literature minor- It takes a different shape for me.
AGAIN- JUST ENJOY IT- I THINK IT IS DEEP ENOUGH TO SHARE WITH MY GREEK FAMILY.
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In ancient Egypt, only a select few underwent a test or ritual to be eligible to write in hieroglyphs and bury the Pharaohs. In death, there were stages that the dead went through to pass to the other world. The Egyptians believed that your body and possessions went with you into the New World.
Hence, they had elaborated burial rites and Tombs(pyramids for the Pharaohs, their wives and children).
For passage into the New World, you were guided across the desert and through your
trials by the light of the moon and stars. Phi Beta Sigma is represented by the Crescent
Moon. If you followed this it would take you where you needed to go. You were guided
by the Falcon-God of the sun and the Pharaohs Horus, "High Above". After crossing the
desert, you came to a place of testing (i.e. Crossing the Burning Sands).
This place is nature and is represented by the Alpha Kappa Alpha Ivy. The Egyptian
Goddess is Qetesh who is a Semetic nature goddess worshipped in Egypt or in the book
of the Dead Sekhmet. She was recreated as a weapon of vengence to destroy men for
their wiked ways. After crossing the desert, the first thing you would come upon was the
Sphinx, the guardian of the Tomb or pyramid. The Sphinx represents Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternity. You needed to solve the riddle of the Sphinx to pass into the tomb or pyramid.
The vessel for the passage, the Pyramid represents Delta Sigma Theta Sorority who
abides by Minerva, the Greek goddess of Wisdom. The Egyptian equivalent to Minerva is
Isis, The Throne. Isis is the goddess of Magic and the widow of Osiris or Satet, also
known as the one who shoots arrows, the elephantine goddess of the Nile floods and
fertility. You enter the pyramids where the rest of the journey is shrouded in secrecy.
Your lesson is given to you on a scroll. Kappa Alpha Phi Fraternity is represented by the
scroll. The god was Toth the Leader and the Ibis god of Wisdom, writing and the moon.
The Cat goddess Bastet was known as the Devouring Lady. She was the goddess of the
home and of the sunlight. Accordint to one myth, she was the personification of the soul
of Isis. She was also called the Lady of the East. Her counter part, the Lady of the West,
was Sekhmet who repersents Zeta Phi Beta Sorority. Sekhmet tested the soul of the dead
during the passage. After you had learned all you needed to learn and proved your
worthiness to Bastet, you were ready for the ultimate test.
The major organs were removed during mummification. At this point, you presented your
heart to Maat who represents Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority. Maat measured against the
feather on her scales. If your heart weighed more than the feather you could not proceed
on to the afterlife.
Finally, you met Anubis known as the Royal Child and was god of mummification
embalming. Anubis had the head of a jackal, which is a type of dog and represents
Omega Psi Phi. He assisted in the ritesby which a dead man was admitted to the
underworld. Anubis was worshipped as the inventor of embalming abd who embalmed
the Dead Osiris and thereby helping to perserve him that he might live again. It is said
that the final test of the rites of passage was physical and given by Anubis.

Thanks for posting this GFK. Imagine how much we could get done, and how powerful we'd be if everyone in the NPHC would realize and truly understand that we're in something much greater than we realize. I challenge all NPHC Greeks to read and comment on this.

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Kelli
12-DN-94
SSU c/o 1997

To be a woman with a desire to become a member of a BGLO, I am inspired to read something so positive. Ghostface that passage is wonderful way to demonstrate the link of each organization to each other and it also exemplifies how important each organization is to each other eventhough each one maintains its individuality through the symbols, calls, rituals etc. This passages gives me encouragement to continue my interest and I will keep it with me when I begin the steps hopefully this fall. Thank you.

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Never cast your pearls before swine Matthew 7:6

Actually, I'd always associated Zeta with Bastet (or Bast) rather than Sekhmet...but maybe it's just my personal identification http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif.

I have seen this "history lesson" before and agree with the underlying message. Clearly, we are "black" (or human, to include all ethnicities) before we are "greek" and so it amazes when we have all this petty in-fighting about organizations...of course I have special feelings for my Sorority...that was why I pledged her, but it does not override my thoughts and feelings of hope, peace and prosperity for the human race and the decendents of ancient Nubia.

Sisterly...Shelacious

I have always associated Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. with Bast/Bastet as well. Go figure. But I too am on the same bus with respect to the big picture view.



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Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated...Every Finer Woman's Dream!

I agree that this is a very positive piece. I like the way it connects all of the BGLOs and shows that we are positive organizations.

I do agree with my sorors that when I read it I mentally associated Zeta Phi Beta with Bastet but like Shelacious that it is personal identification! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/tongue.gif

ZetaAce

actually I remeber first reading this back when I was pledging, but I still know that back then I still felt like this is something that all neos should read, because to often they don't (and I am a neo) see the whole picture....I love my blu and gold, but I also know that we are all after the same goal here