The mystical roots of San Jose's Egyptian treasure

"On a warm April Friday, gaggles of children gather between stark white columns painted with bright blue markings reminiscent of petals, listening in as a tour guide distills the core tenets of ancient Egyptian philosophy. Stepping through the gilded doors reveals scores of children who generate a buzz as they explore a replica of a plundered tomb and gaze into the unblinking eyes of a mummified Apis bull."

"Behind the group tours that crowd around the glass-encased curiosities, a video softly plays on loop in the back of the museum. With piano music playing in the background, it displays the text of 22 precepts, superimposed over stock footage of diverse people and stunning vistas. Some precepts are unassuming practice tolerance, be generous towards those in need, regard humanity as a family."

"The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum has long been a staple of San Jose living, boasting 100,000 visitors each year 26,000 of whom are schoolchildren. They come to glimpse pieces of ancient history; with more than 4,000 artifacts, the museum houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts in western North America. But few visitors know much, if anything, about the story behind its name or the century-old group known as the Ancient Mystical Order of Rosae Crucis, or AMORC, which created it."

Children and school groups frequently visit the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum to view replicas, mummies, and artifacts amid immersive exhibits. A looping video presents 22 precepts, mixing commonplace ethical guidance with esoteric instructions invoking sanctums, purifications, and symbolic oaths. The museum attracts roughly 100,000 visitors annually, including about 26,000 schoolchildren, and houses more than 4,000 artifacts, making it the largest collection of ancient Egyptian objects in western North America. The museum was created by the Ancient Mystical Order of Rosae Crucis (AMORC), a Rosicrucian offshoot tracing spiritual lineage to Egyptian pharaohs and various ancient philosophical traditions, which imparts a subtle mystical character to the grounds.

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