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I recently bought a very rare French edition of an ancient Arabic MS by the title of "Livre des perles enfouies et du mystere precieux", including very interesting notes and a commentary by George Daressy (1918).
You can read online the 1907 edition at the following link: http://archive.org/d...sperlesen00amad (without the commentary of Daressy)
The book is notable for mentioning the location of various cachettes of ancient treasures in the land of Egypt, and takes the form of a codified document using allegorical metaphors and an alchemical language which is typical of medieval hermetism. The original manuscript dates to the XV Century and had circulated for a while in occult circles before being published by the Egyptologis Gaston Maspero in 1907 (the aim of Maspero was to put an end to indiscriminate treasure hunting by exposing the book and its presumed "secrets". Of course this sorted quite the opposite).
It contains a descriptions of 417 cachettes and warnings against the unprepared, descriptions of the rituals to be performed and the treasures hidden therein. There is no logical flow in the text, which appears as a random collection or list of supposed magical treasures buried at various locations in Egypt. The description numbered CCCLXIX is the most famous as it describes the fabulous lost city (oasis) of Zerzura, which inspired many books and even a few movies.
There are however also several descriptions of cachettes in or around the plain of Giza. The descriptions numbered CCXIX and CCXX are especially interesting, as they mention some kind of "deposits" of hermetic knowledge and occult artefacts which bear a very close resemblance to the hermetic concept of an ante-diluvian Hall of Records.
Description CCXX is notable for providing very accurate geographical indications that one can follow until the "deposits of Hermes":
Quote
"The deposits of Hermes are located close to the blessed tree that neither dies in Winter nor in the Summer, which does not surrender to the winds, which is not affected by the passing of time and the like of which is nowhere to be found on the Western mountain"
From the commentary of Daressy and the passage above, it is clear that the tree in question is a Sycamore, which was sacred to Hathor (also called "Mistress of the Sycamore" or "Mistress of the Sycamore of the South"). Also, Daressy mentions a different edition of the same MS which calls the tree a "Sycamore of stone", which may therefore hint at some rock formation or an ancient monument located in the Libyan desert (the Western mountain) west of Giza.
The manuscript then goes on to describe two alternate routes in order to reach the deposits:
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"The first route leading to the deposits of Hermes starts from the convent of Hermes, son of Hermes, close to which stand many pyramids both large and small: take a road from these pyramids towards the Royal Church: you will get there after one day of march, heading West. Going on, you will reach the third mountain, and from there you will proceed towards the deposits taking a path to the South-West passing by the pyramids of Shaddad, the son of Ad"
According to Daressy, the "convent of Hermes" may be identified with the monastery of Jeremiah in Sakkara, and thus the "Pyramids both large and small" are indeed the pyramids of Sakkara.
There is no hint as to the location of the "Royal Church - l' Eglise Royal", however, it is quite clear that the author does not mean an actual Church, but rather some ancient monument (a large tomb of the Memphite necropolis or a Temple?).
The pyramids of Shaddad must therefore be the Pyramids of Snefru at Dahshur.
There is then a second route leading to the deposits:
Quote
"This second route begins next to a village by the name of Barnasht, and you fill find this road much easier and faster. As soon as you will be in Barnasht, you will march to the North-West. After about 4 miles, you fill encounter a high hill by the name of Halq: climb the hill to find seven tombs [follows a description of the fumigations and the content of the tombs]. Whatewer route you will take, you will always encounter this hill on the way to the Sycomore named Mohalleq or Halq, where many birds are stationed: As soon as you have reached this tree, from whatever route, you will see in front of you the Tell as well as the tombs on its highest point. Look west, then head slightly North, and you will find yourself amidst a vast desert crossed by a road: follow this road. You will reach some large hills: from there you will reach three others and finally to the blessed tree after 3 miles to the North. The tree stands amidst a walled enclosure, to the East of which you will find 11 mastabas, of which one takes an isolated position"
Then follows the description of several chambers and crypts containing tombs and many treasures.
Would be interesting to track the path on Google Earth, perhaps with some help from the egyptologist in the forum in identifying the various places and landmarks mentioned in the ancient text...
