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Afrangi – The silent majority of Egyptians are called (and they call themselves) Baladi, meaning natives.
The loud minority of Egyptians (high governmental officials, academicians, journalists, and the self-proclaimed intellectuals) are described by the silent majority as Afrangi, meaning foreigners.
The Afrangi are the Egyptian people who compromised the Egyptian heritage to gain high positions and approval of foreign invaders of Egypt.
As a tool of foreign forces, like Arabs, the Afrangi rule and dominate the Baladi--the natives.
The Afrangi are, like their foreign masters, arrogant, cruel, and vain.
After foreign forces left Egypt, the Egyptian Afrangi continued their role as the righteous rulers.
Amen/Amun/Amon – represents the hidden or occult force underlying creation. Amen represents the spirit that animates the universe with all its constituents, and as such, he is the reason why the whole universe exists. In the creative aspect, he is identified with Ra, as Amen-Ra.
Animism – The concept that all things in the universe are animated (energized) by life forces. This concurs, scientifically, with the kinetic theory, where each minute particle of any matter is in constant motion, i.e. energized with life forces. [For more information, read Egyptian Cosmology: The Animated Universe, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
ankh – the symbol of eternal life. The Egyptian ankh emblem was the symbol of early Christians in Egypt.
antiphony – two different and alternating sounds, such as a response sung between a single voice and group of singers, or between two groups of singers, etc. [For more information, read Egyptian Rhythm: The Heavenly Melodies, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Apis – the Greek name for Hap or Hapi, the sacred bulls. The Apis bull personified the sexual power/fertility of Ptah, creator of forms.
Aton – is the disk of the sun as the physical manifestation of Ra.
attributes – the Divine qualities and meanings that are the real causative factors of the manifested creations.
Ausar – Ausar represents the mortal man carrying within himself the capacity and power of spiritual salvation. He came to earth for the benefit of mankind, with the title of Manifester of Good and Truth. His death by the evil one was followed by his burial and resurrection, and then becoming the judge of the dead. Ausar (Osiris) was equivalent to Pluto and with Dionysos, in Greek mythology.
Auset (Isis) – the wife of Ausar (Osiris) and mother of Heru (Horus). Patron of one of the four canopic jars, protecting the liver.
Ba – usually translated as the soul. It is the divine, immortal essence. When the Ba departs, the body dies. The Ba is usually shown as a stork with a human head.
Ba-ra-ka – a transferable quality of personal blessedness and spiritual force (almost a physical force). [For more information, read Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Baladi – the present silent majority of Egyptians that adhere to the Ancient Egyptian traditions, with a thin exterior layer of Islam. [For more information, read Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, Egyptian Rhythm: The Heavenly Melodies, and Egyptian Cosmology: The Animated Universe, all by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Bastet – Cat netert (goddess), representing the tame, aspect of Sekhmet.
BCE – Before Common Era. Also noted in other references as BC.
beat – a constant pulsation. It acts as a ruler by which we can measure time.
Book of Coming Forth By Light (Per-em-hru) – consists of over 100 chapters of varying lengths, which are closely related to the Unas Transformational/Funerary (so-called Pyramid) Texts at Sakkara. This book is only found, in its complete form, on papyrus scrolls that were wrapped in the mummy swathings of the deceased and buried with him.
Book of the Dead – see Book of Coming Forth By Light.
canopic jar – special jars or receptacles used to store the vital organs of the deceased.
cartouche – oblong figure which contains the name of a person.
CE – Common Era. Also noted in other references as AD.
chironomid – one who gestures with his/her hands—a maestro/conductor.
chironomy – the art of conducting or representing music by gestures of the fingers, hand(s), and/or arm(s).
chord – a combination of three or more tones sounded together in harmony.
Circle Index – designates the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter, and is equal to 22/7.
Copt – "Copt" is derived from the Greek rendering for an Egyptian. The Arabs, after 641 CE, labeled non-Moslems as Copts. As a result, the term "Copt" took on a different meaning after the 7th century. It should be noted, however, that the Christian population of Egypt is an ethnic minority that came as refugees, from Judaea and Syria to the Ptolemaic/Roman-ruled Alexandria. 2,000 years later, they are easily distinguishable in looks and mannerisms from the majority of native Egyptians. [For more information, read our article, The Christian Copts of Egypt, and our book, Exiled Egyptians: The Heart of Africa, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
cosmology – The study of the origin, creation, structure, and orderly operation of the universe, as a whole and of its related parts.
cubit – The Ancient Egyptian unit of linear measurement, which is the distance between the elbow and the tip of the extended middle finger.
one cubit = 1.72’ (0.5236m)
diatonic – a scale consisting of 5 whole tones and 2 semitones.
Djet – see Tet.
Duat/Tuat – the Underworld, where the soul of the deceased goes through transformation leading to resurrection.
Fifth – can mean either: 1) the fifth tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone four degrees above or below any given tone in such a scale—dominant. 2) the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them.
Fourth – can mean either: 1) the fourth tone of an ascending diatonic scale, or a tone three degrees above or below any given tone in such a scale—subdominant. 2) the interval between two such tones, or a combination of them.
fret – narrow, lateral ridges fixed across the finger board of a stringed instrument, such as a guitar, etc., to guide the fingering.
Geb – the neter (god) representing the material/physical aspects of the universe (and not in the narrow sense of "earth" as a material body); consort of Nut; represented as a man, often reclining under Nut, the Sky netert.
halftone – see semitone.
Hathor – See Het-Heru (the Egyptian name).
Heb-Sed – Ancient Egyptian festival associated with the rejuvenation of the spiritual and physical powers of the Pharaoh.
Hermes – see Tehuti (the Egyptian name).
heptatonic – consists of seven (hepta) tones.
Heru – is the falcon-deity, who is identified with the King during his lifetime. He is the son of Ausar (Osiris) and Auset (Isis). His centres are located in many places, e.g. Behdet in the Delta, and Edfu in Upper Egypt.
Het-Heru – is the provider of spiritual nourishment, pleasure, music, love, and dance. She is the consort of Heru (Horus). Her main temple was at Dendera. The Greeks associated her with Aphrodite.
Horus – see Heru (the Egyptian name).
interval – can mean either: 1) the ratio of the number of vibrations between two different tones. 2) The distance separating two consecutive musical notes. [Also see tone and semitone.]
Islam – Islam means submission. The Moslems believe in Allah as the sole God, AND that Mohammed is his prophet. Allah is an Arabic word, meaning who has everything. According to Islamic traditions, Moslem followers are encouraged to spread the word, even by force if necessary.
Moslems have five main acts to follow, as directed by the Koran (Qur’an), the Moslem’s holy book. These Five Pillars of Faith are:
Islamized – states the actual conditions of people described as Moslems. Moslem is indicative of a free will to practice Islam. However, since Islam was forced on people many centuries ago, and because present-day born-Moslems are subject to execution by any Moslem (according to the Koran) if they renounce their religion, it is therefore more appropriate to call these hapless people Islamized and not Moslems.
jihad – A Moslem war aimed at converting others to Islam, by killing those who resist, and/or enslaving them.
Ka – a spiritual entity that is often translated as the personality. The Ka does not die with the mortal body, but it reincarnates into another physical vehicle.
Ka-ra-ma-at – means/represents the manifestation of Ba-ra-ka. [For more information, read Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Khepri – A symbol for the transformational power of the sun. It is often represented as a beetle within the sun-disk. It is Ra, in his form of the scarab beetle.
lotus – white waterlily, that is likened to Egypt — the Nile Delta is the flower, and the Nile valley is the stem.
Ma-at – netert (goddess) of truth, right, and orderly conduct. Ma-at represents harmony, equilibrium, and balance. The concept of Ma-at has permeated all Egyptian writings, from the earliest times and throughout Egyptian history. She is the concept by which not only men, but also the neteru (gods/goddesses) themselves are governed. Ma-at is represented as a woman with an ostrich feather on her head.
Maa Kheru – An Ancient Egyptian term, literally meaning True of Voice/Words. This is equivalent to our common expression, True to his/her word.
mastaba – the Arabic word for bench; a mud-brick, above-ground structure. The burial chambers of the deceased are found below the mastaba.
matriarchy – A society/state/organization, whose descent, inheritance, and governance are traced through the females. It is the woman who transmits political rights, and the husband she chooses then acts as her executive agent.
matrilineal – A society whose descent, inheritance, and governance are based on descent through the maternal line.
Moslem – see Islamized.
mouled/moulid – The annual renewal celebration of a Wali (folk saint) in Ancient and Baladi Egypt. Also see Wali. [For more information, read Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
mummification – The process was basically one of dehydration of the body, after the removal of the brain (through the nostrils), and the viscera (through an incision in the side of the body). The body is then packed with temporary material containing dehydrating and preserving agents, for 40 days. The temporary packing is then replaced with permanent resin-soaked linens and fragrances. The body is then anointed and wrapped in fine linen gauze. It took seventy days to complete the process.
Mut – Consort of Amen of Ta-Apet (Thebes). Mut is usually depicted as a woman wearing a vulture headdress; sometimes she is shown with the body of the vulture. Mut can also be shown with feathered, outstretched winged arms, which matches our expression: ‘under her wings’.
mysticism – consists of ideas and practices that lead to union with the Divine. Union is described more accurately as togetherness, joining, arriving, conjunction, and the realization of God’s uniqueness.
Neb (Golden) Proportion – is the “key to the structure of the cosmos”. It is obtained using a rectangle of sides 1:2. If an approximation must be made, its value is 1.6180339. . . .
Nebt-Het – sister of Auset (Isis). Acted with Auset as mourner for Ausar (Osiris), and hence for all dead people. One of the four canopic jar patrons, protecting the lungs. Her name means golden/noblest/mistress (Nebt), of the place/house (Het).
Neith – See Net (the Egyptian name).
Nephthys – See Nebt-het (the Egyptian name).
Net – Patron of Sau (Sais) in the Nile Delta, represented as a woman wearing the red crown. Her emblem is a shield with crossed arrows. She is identified by the Greeks with Athena. One of the four canopic jar patrons, protector of the stomach.
neter/netert – a divine principle/function/attribute of the One Great God. Incorrectly translated as god/goddess.
nome – One of the 42 divisions/provinces or states of Egypt.
notes – in Western musical terms, the letters A (La) to G (Sol) are used to designate notes.
Nut – Personification of the sky as matrix of all. The sky-netert (goddess), consort of Geb. Nut is represented as a woman, her naked body, usually covered with stars, is curved to form the arch of heaven. She swallows the sun, and it comes out the other end, to represent a cycle.
obelisk – monolithic stone pillar, with almost square sides tapering to a pyramidal top, which was used for astronomical purposes in Ancient Egypt.
Osiris – See Ausar (the Egyptian name).
papyrus – could mean either: 1) A plant that is used to make a writing surface. 2) Paper, as a writing medium. 3) The text written on it, such as “Leiden Papyrus”.
perfect (in the musical sense) – the name given to certain intervals—the Fourth, Fifth, and Octave. The term is applied to these intervals in their natural sounds (not “tempered”).
perfect solid – a solid figure composed of plane faces, each of whose faces is identical and is an equilateral planar form, e.g., triangle, square or pentagon.
Phi – (f), see Neb (Golden) Proportion.
Pi – (p), see Circle Index.
pitch – the position of a tone in a musical scale, determined by the frequency of vibration, and measured by cycles per second.
polyhedron – see perfect solid.
polyphony – the simultaneous sounding of different notes; the sounding of two or more different melodies simultaneously.
Ptah – the neter (god) who represents the Divine Architect of heaven and earth. Ptah is considered the patron of craftsmen. Hephaestus is his Greek rendering.
pylon – a towering structure flanking a temple’s gateway.
pyramid – a solid figure having a polygonal base, the sides of which form the bases of triangular surfaces meeting at a common vertex.
Pyramid Texts – a collection of transformational (funerary) literature that was found in the tombs of the 5th and 6th Dynasties (2465-2150 BCE).
Ra – represents the primeval, cosmic, creative force. His hidden name is Amen, which means secret. All neteru (gods) who took part in the creation process are aspects of Ra . Therefore, Ra is often linked with other neteru, such as Atum-Ra, Ra-Harakhte, etc.
Ra-Harakhte – a neteru (god) in the form of a falcon, embodying the characteristics of Ra and Heru (here called “Heru of the Horizon”).
Re – see Ra (the Egyptian name).
sacred geometry – The process by which all figures are to be drawn or created by using only a straight line (not even a ruler) and a compass, i.e. without measurement (dependent on proportion only). [For more information, read Egyptian Harmony: The Visual Music, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Sakar/Seker – hawk-headed, with a swathed male figure; represents the deepest stage of the sun’s journey beneath the earth (Duat). Sakkara is named after Sakar.
scale (in the musical sense) – any series of eight tones to the octave—arranged in a step-by-step rising or falling of pitch, which consists of a given pattern of intervals (the differences of pitch between notes).
scarab – amulet in the form of a black beetle, symbol of transformation. Also see Khepri.
Sebek – Crocodile-headed neter (god), representing the divine aspect of death, that is a necessity in order to achieve resurrection and eternal life. As such, Sebek is an aspect of Ra. Sebek temples can be found in Kom Ombo and El Fayoum.
Sekhmet – Lioness-headed consort of Ptah, and as such, represents the feminine aspect of the same creative power. Regarded as the bringer of destruction to the enemies of Ra.
semitone – the intervals between B (Si) and C (Do), and between E (Mi) and F (Fa). [Also see tone].
Serapis – represented Ausar (Osiris) when he took on the form of the bull as Apis.
Set – represents the power of opposition that is always working to prevent peace, harmony, and order. Set and his accomplices represent the forces of darkness, chaos, etc. Set is identified with many animals, including the pig, ass, hippopotamus, etc. He is the brother of Ausar (Osiris), as well as his murderer. Set is the rival of Heru (Horus). He was equated by the Greeks with Typhon.
Seth – see Set (Egyptian name).
slope (common definition) – the amount or degree of the deviation from the horizontal or vertical in an inclined surface. The ratio of the vertical difference divided by the horizontal difference.
slope (in Ancient Egypt) – For the Ancient Egyptians, the slope was the length required for half the base when the height was equal to 1 (one cubit).
Sokar/Sokaris – See Sakar (the Egyptian name).
stanza – a group of lines of verse forming one of the divisions of a poem or song. It typically has a regular pattern in the number of lines and the arrangement of meter and rhyme.
stele (plural: stelae) – stone or wooden slab or column inscribed with commemorative texts.
step – interval of sound.
Tehuti – represents the Divine aspects of wisdom and intellect. It was Tehuti (Thoth) who uttered the words that created the world, as commanded by Ra. He is represented as the messenger of the neteru (gods/goddesses), of writing, language, and knowledge. Tehuti is known to the Greeks as Hermes.
Tet – a symbolic pillar, representing the backbone of Ausar (Osiris), the support of creation. It represents the channel through which the divine spirit might rise through matter to rejoin its source.
tetrachord – a series of four tones comprising a total interval of a Perfect Fourth; half an octave.
The Two Lands – represents the two earthly realms, where we exist in one, and each’s twin of the opposite sex exists in the other. The two (twins) are subject to the same experiences from the date of birth to the date of death. In other words, the two represent the perfect mirror image. The concept of the Two Lands permeates Ancient Egyptian and present-day Baladi Egyptian traditions. [For more information, read Egyptian Cosmology: The Animated Universe, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
Thoth – See Tehuti (the Egyptian name).
tone – the combination of pitch, intensity (loudness) and quality (timbre). The interval between each of the notes is a tone, except between B (Si) and C (Do), and between E (Mi) and F (Fa), where the interval is a semitone in each case.
tonality – the relationship between musical sounds or tones, taking into account their vibratory relationships and their appreciation by the ear. A systematic musical structure.
unison – the same sound, produced by two or more instruments or voices.
ushabti – a small figurine, usually of clay, buried with the mummy.
vertex – the point opposite to and farthest from the base in a figure; a point that terminates a line or curve or comprises the intersection of two or more lines.
Wali (plural: awliya) – used in various senses derived from its root-meaning of nearness, e.g. next of kin, patron, protector, friend, whose holiness brings them near to God, and who receive from Him, as tokens of His peculiar favor, miraculous gifts (Ka-ra-ma-at). The Wali therefore is a folk saint who the Baladi and Ancient Egyptians respect, visit, and ask favors. Unlike the saints in Christianity and Islamic Shiites, Walis in Egypt are chosen by ordinary people, based on performance. Once the people can see that this person does indeed have the ability to influence supernatural forces, in order to assist those on earth, and as a result fulfills their wishes, then he or she is considered to be a Wali. Also see mouled/moulid. [For more information, read Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, by Moustafa Gadalla.]
zikr – a mystical practice intended to achieve knowledge of God by way of revelations in which states of visionary ecstasy are brought on by groups of purified mystic seekers, chanting of religious texts, rhythmic gestures, dancing, and deep breathing. [For more information, read Egyptian Mystics: Seekers of the Way, by Moustafa Gadalla.]