Jesus was educated by the Essenes at the Dead Sea. Mary Magdalene was educated by the Therapeutae just outside Alexandria in Egypt. That was a mystery school where men and women studied on equal footing. They learned astrology, astronomy, the properties of stones and crystals, healing on all levels — physical, psychological and spiritual. It was a truly holistic education.
Lars Muhl
Pa’pa (Yeshua) was frequently with us during our hermitage retreats. During that time we also visited and participated in the healing work being done at various Essene–Therapeutae hospitals, hospices and monasteries scattered through these regions. We were glad to experience the Romans basically supporting our humanitarian efforts as long as our doors were open to Roman citizens and soldiers requiring our aid. [Sar’h – Ibiza, Iberia (Spain), AD63]We are building over ancient Phoenician and Greek ruins. This site commands a beautiful view looking out over the expansive blue waters of the sea.
Anna, the voice of the Magdalenes
Essenes and Therapeutae were ancient Jewish (or Jewish-influenced) ascetic sects active roughly from the 2nd century BCE to the 1st century CE. They are known primarily through ancient writers: Philo of Alexandria, Josephus, and Pliny the Elder for the Essenes, and almost exclusively Philo for the Therapeutae.
Philo contrasts them deliberately:
- Essenes exemplify the active philosophical/religious life (practical, communal, in Judea/Palestine, often linked to Qumran).
- Therapeutae (or Therapeutrides for women) represent the contemplative life, centered near Alexandria, Egypt, especially on a hill by Lake Mareotis (Mariout).
Many scholars view the Therapeutae as a contemplative or Egyptian branch of the broader Essene movement, though their exact relationship and even their strict Jewish identity remain debated. Some see possible syncretic influences (Egyptian, Greek, or even distant parallels to early Buddhist monastic structures).
