Alexandrian School

Alexandrian School. It is doubtful whether this should be called a school, since that term means a group of scholars having a somewhat common discipline and being more or less in general agreement on some main line of thought, theory, or purpose. Alexandria attracted scholars from all over the Levant. In over-all aspect there was a mixture of Oriental, Jewish, Egyptian, Syrian, and Greek philosophy, religion, magism, occultism, and speculation. It was one of the greatest centers of learning of ancient times, with a museum and what was probably, up to that time, the largest library in the world, but it was a clearing house rather than a school. Gnosticism and Kabbalism undoubtedly originated and gained currency from Alexandria, and as almost every sort of mysticism and symbolism may be found in those and other products of Alexandrian learning, a rich source of supply was there available to the ritualists of the higher degrees.

Macoy Collector's Note: Coil points to the ancient Mediterranean clearinghouse of philosophies as a primary inspiration for the mystical symbolism later adopted by the Hauts Grades in the 18th century.