To recap on our fishing (sic) for things.
Hippolyto Joseph da Costa made an attempt to "prove that modern Freemasonry derived from ancient Greek philosophical and religious ideas".
It’s strange, however, that the account, as published, doesn’t make any mention of where ancient Greeks got a great deal of their knowledge from. We know, for example, that Aristotle and Pythagoras were both influenced by Egyptian esoteric knowledge, and both may have spent time studying in Egyptian Mystery Schools.
Thoth Hermes Trismegistus, before he was revered as a god, founded one of the greatest Egyptian Mystery Schools. He is reported to have received his wisdom while in meditative trances, and to have written over 40 books including the Emerald Tablet, The Book of Thoth and The Divine Pymander. The Book of Thoth was reserved for graduates of the Mystery School. He is portrayed by the Egyptians as the moon god with the body of a man, head of an ibis, and a crescent moon over his head.
Another of the schools was known as the "Royal School of the Master Craftsmen", which is immediately suggestive of a masonic connection. Based at Karnak, and founded by Pharaoh Thuthmosis III. “This school was also known as the Great White Brotherhood due to the members choice of raiment (white robes)”
ref:
http://www.ancient-origins.net/history- ... ies-002676 It is said to have gone into decline as new Dynasties emerged, such as Solomon’s in Israel. Perhaps that is where the school moved?