Esoteric Quest News August 2010

Quest News is produced to introduce you to our staff and faculty, as well as to pass on exciting information about the upcoming Esoteric Quest Conference and Post Conference Tours. Our next conference is titled: An Esoteric Quest for Ancient Alexandria, Greco-Egyptian Birthplace of the Western Mind. This Quest will be taking place from June 12th – 17th, 2011, in Alexandria, Egypt. The conference will be followed by two optional journeys – one deeper into Ancient Egypt and the other to Cyprus. Please see http://www.esotericquest.org/ for more information.

QUEST FACULTY MEMBER — MERVAT NASSER

Mervat Nasser was born and educated in Egypt and graduated from Cairo Medical School. She received her higher medical training and qualifications in England where she served as a clinical psychiatrist and university academic from 1977- 2007. Her higher degrees include a fellowship of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, a masters degree in philosophy and a doctorate in psychiatry from London University. She also has higher diplomas in moral philosophy, the history of medicine and Egyptology. She is a history analyst and culture critic who writes regularly on these subjects for reputable journals in Egypt and has published several books in Arabic on Culture & Egyptology. She is the founder and chairperson of the New Hermopolis, a UK & Egypt registered charity. This charitable foundation aims to revive the ancient city of Hermopolis in Middle Egypt inspired by its unique heritage for the purpose of cultural and economic revival of this underprivileged region through tourism, education and skill development.

You divide your time between Egypt and London and you teach at University of London and you are also involved in a project called New Hermopolis. Can you tell us about what you hope to create with this project?

I was born and educated in Egypt; and graduated from Cairo Medical School in 1975. I received my higher medical training and qualifications in England where I served as a clinical psychiatrist and university academic from 1977- 2007. I took up an early retirement in 2007 to dedicate my efforts to the development of this foundation, a non profit organisation registered in both England and Egypt (www.newhermopolis.org). My last post prior to retirement was a Consultant Psychiatrist/ Honorary Senior lecturer at Kings College University in London, UK.  I currently hold an emeritus position as a fellow of the Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College in London, UK .

The New Hermopolis project is inspired by the philosophy of ancient Hermopolis, a city located in the governorate of El Minia in middle Egypt. Hermopolis was a mode of thought in ancient and classical times.  It was named after Hermes, the Greek equivalent of Thoth, the lord of time, inventor of writing and the guardian of thought, who revealed to the Egyptians all knowledge of astronomy, architecture, medicine and alchemy. The ancient Hermopolis enjoyed close links with Alexandria and its famous ancient library. The Corpus Hermeticum, documents which represent the sum knowledge produced by Hermopolis, were in fact collected and recovered in the city of Alexandria. They were brought to Florence in the 15th century and had a great influence on the philosophy of Europe from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment and beyond. This is reflected in the life and work of major European figures of science, philosophy, art and literature. The appeal of the Hermetic philosophy in our post-modern era stems from our disillusionment with what we see as a growing reductionist view of science, added to our rejection of a parallel wave towards religious extremism that threatens all the humanistic values for which we stand. Hermetism offers, on the other hand, the possibility of union through diversity. It preaches Universal Oneness with regard to all varieties of belief and its various forms of expression. The rediscovery of the intellectual innovation and cultural dialogue which once flourished here will be a catalyst for the development of the region and re-integration of the world’s civilizations once more. Following roads travelled by ideas throughout human history, the project can pave the way to sustainable and peaceful development. The aim is to use this unique heritage to establish a cultural milieu geared towards facilitating the exchange of ideas and the transmission of values that bind humanity together. Apart from serving as a retreat for tourists, this resort will also house lectures, offer courses, and organize intercultural events and workshops for the local community and international visitors.  Camps will be organized as well as conferences for artists, Egyptologists, and writers, among others. The history of Hermopolis as the birthplace of humanism and spiritual development through knowledge is sure to inspire innovation, religious tolerance and cultural harmony.  It is envisioned that such exchanges will foster increased peace and security for this inflamed region and the international community as a whole. The resulting free flow of ideas will also stimulate sustainable development through education and awareness for the local community and the homes of visitors. The anticipated results of such communication include decreased religious tensions, increased democratisation through community mobilization programs and empowerment through sustainable development and civic education. Proceeds from the resort’s revenue will be used to implement sustainable community building projects for the local impoverished population.

You will be a speaker at our upcoming conference on the world of ancient Alexandria, what is your perspective on the contemporary significance of ancient Alexandrian culture? What will your presentation at our conference be about?

I will be talking about the Hermetic philosophy as a philosophy of hope that can be of great help to us today. As I mentioned before, the Hermetic manuscripts were found in the city of Alexandria in the second and third centuries and were mostly written in Greek or Latin. Combined with Neo-Platonism and Stoicism, the Hermetic philosophy had a great impact on the Alexandrian school of thought and helped to inspire some of the greatest minds and achievements of the ancient world. It is difficult nonetheless to streamline Hermetism and regard it as one system of thought, and despite the complexities of its concepts and its various forms and discourses, its influence continue into our modern and post-modern times. Many elements of the Hermetic tradition were taken over by several movements in the West in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries manifesting in societies dealing with theosophy, anthropology and other esoteric studies. It also has an influence on the work of many individual literary and artistic figures to this very day.

In Egypt today is there much interest in the period of Greco Roman Alexandria and the Ptolemaic Dynasty?

There are faculties in almost every university in Egypt specialising in the study of Greco Roman Alexandria and the Ptolemaic Dynasty. There are also several societies and centres focused on the study of Greek Culture and the Greco-Roman periods. I personally tend to think that all periods of Egyptian history, be they ancient, classical, medieval or modern, are nothing but layers of one rich history.

What role would you say the Biblioteca Alexandrina plays in current Egyptian culture?

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is a model of a modern library but it is also dedicated to recapture the spirit of the original ancient one. In its eight years of life, the library has not only become a center of attraction, but also a mainstay for many students and scholars through the program offerings, exhibitions, and the availability of research material and reference collection. The BA Complex encompasses the main library and four special libraries, four museums, eight research centres, several permanent exhibitions and art galleries, a planetarium, an Alexploratorium and a large conference center. The Library aspires to be the world’s window on Egypt, Egypt’s window on the world, an instrument for rising to the challenges of the digital age, and a centre for dialogue between peoples and civilizations.

For conference attendees visiting Egypt for the first time, are there any suggestions you would like to make on how best to approach Egyptian culture for the richest experience?

Only relax and enjoy the delights of this wonderful city and if they have the time, they may wish to visit other centres and sites.

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