It was the symbol of symbols, the mystical Tau, 'the bidden wisdom,' not only of the ancient Egyptians but also of the Chaldeans, Phœnicians, Mexicans, Peruvians, and of every other ancient people commemorated in history, in either hemisphere, and is formed very similarly to our letter T, with a roundlet, or oval, placed immediately above it.
This, to be brief, was the recognized conventional mode of expressing a particular primitive truth or mystery from the days of the Chaldeans to those of the Gnostics, or from one extremity of the civilized world to the other.
According, to Herodotus, they were introduced by the Hyksos; and Proclus, the Platonic philosopher, connects them with the science of astronomy--a science which, he adds, the Egyptians derived from the Chaldeans.
He added language links to Arabian, Cushite, Chaldean, and Phoenician tongues.
Chaldean legends, as deciphered from Babylonian tablets, mention an original race of men called Ad-mi or Ad-ami, who were distinct from a "light race." This race's fall and subsequent deluge echo the destruction of Atlantis:
Chaldean Deluge
Alfred Maury noted that American flood legends closely resemble those of the Bible and Chaldean records, suggesting a common origin from Atlantis rather than migration from Asia.
Popul Vuh: Describes a great flood caused by the god Hurakan, resulting in a resinous rain and darkness, akin to the Chaldean and biblical accounts.
The Chaldean legend's "terrible water-spout" and the Aramæan tradition's "enormous volumes of water" issuing from the earth reflect similar events.
The Chaldean and Hindoo legends also reference significant mountains, like the Mountain of Nizir and the Mountain of the North, respectively.
This aligns with the Chaldean legend where humanity returned to mud and the "Popol Vuh" describing a "resinous thickness." Historical volcanic eruptions have shown similar impacts, such as the eruption in Iceland in 1783, which covered the sea with pumice, and the Sumbawa eruption in 1815, which impeded ships with floating cinders.
Chaldean legends describe Khasisatra burying inscribed tables in the City of the Sun.
Chaldean and Syrian Traditions:
Chaldean Legend: Xisuthros (Khasisatra) is warned by the god Cronos (Ea) of a flood.
The Chaldean Deluge story has two versions, both showing remarkable agreement.
Differences from Biblical Account: The Chaldean legend’s emphasis on a sea-based cataclysm and a navigable ship points to an origin by a maritime people, unlike the inland-focused Biblical flood story.
Cataclysmic Nature: The Chaldean flood involved multiple natural disasters, akin to Plato’s description of Atlantis’s destruction.
Chaldean
In Chaldean mythology, there are references to various earth spirits and beings, some of which were believed to dwell underground.
23 The land of Egypt being first discovered by a woman, who was the daughter of Ham, and the daughter of Egyptus, which in the Chaldean signifies Egypt, which signifies that which is forbidden;
The statement also mentions that the name "Egyptus" in the Chaldean language signifies "Egypt." This seems to suggest a linguistic or etymological link between the name of the character Egyptus and the name of the country.
The Chaldean language, known as a Semitic language historically spoken in the Chaldean Dynasty of Babylon, does not have a direct connection to the naming of Egypt.
Note: Chaldea, historically, refers to a region in southern Babylonia, in modern-day Iraq, known for its rich history and as the center of the Chaldean Dynasty.