Were the ancient Egyptian pharaohs Freemasons?
While there are many theories and speculative connections drawn between ancient Egyptian practices and Freemasonry, there is no historical evidence to suggest that the ancient Egyptian pharaohs were Freemasons. Freemasonry, as we understand it today, is a fraternal organization that has its roots in the late 16th and early 17th centuries, primarily emerging from the stonemasons' guilds of medieval Europe.
As noted by Albert Pike in *Morals and Dogma*, "The ancient Egyptians had their mysteries, and their priests were initiated into them." This acknowledgment of ancient mystery traditions does not equate them to Freemasonry, but rather highlights the influence of various historical and philosophical traditions on Masonic principles.