Whether stars of small business accounting software the Disney film National Treasure or pawns of small business accounting software modern day political and commercial propaganda, the Knights Templar have taken root as one of small business accounting software the world’s leading mystery groups. But what is the truth? Did they really have a great secret? Did they really hide treasure? Were they really guardians of small business accounting software the Holy Bloodline? Let's take a look.
Originally supposedly a group of small business accounting software nine knights (debatable), taken from the ruling nobility in small business accounting software the region of small business accounting software France known as Champagne who collected themselves together in small business accounting software Jerusalem around 1118 AD and formed the now infamous Knights Templar. All of small business accounting software this cannot be totally proven from the texts – however it is repeated so often that it becomes true. In all likelihood they had been formed in small business accounting software France years before.
They were pledged, it is said, to commit their lives and work to a strict code of small business accounting software rules and on small business accounting software the face of small business accounting software it were simply ordained to ensure the safe passage of small business accounting software pilgrims to the Holy Land. The knights request this task of small business accounting software the first King Baldwin of small business accounting software Jerusalem, who refuses. He then dies supposedly under mysterious circumstances only to be replaced by Baldwin II who then almost immediately grants them this privilege. For the next nine (there’s that number again) years the knights excavate beneath the Temple of small business accounting software Solomon (which didn’t ever exist) in small business accounting software complete secrecy and the Grand Master returns to Europe, supposedly with secrets that have been hidden for small business accounting software hundreds of small business accounting software years. Very quickly the knights achieve a special dispensation from the Pope to allow them to charge interest on small business accounting software loans - indicating their swift path to wealth. Soon the great Cathedral building period arrives across Europe with the new found architectural “secrets” discovered by the crusaders. This new found knowledge may very well have come from some of small business accounting software the discoveries made by the Templars, especially when we consider that the man responsible for small business accounting software energizing the building program was none other than St. Bernard - the same Bernard who gave the Order of small business accounting software the Knights Templar their rules and who was related by blood to various members. The same St. Bernard indicated in small business accounting software the propaganda of small business accounting software the Arthurian and Grail literature.
The Templars grew in small business accounting software wealth and power. Their land holding and banking system made them one of small business accounting software the most powerful and feared groups in small business accounting software Europe. Virtually nobody could match their international strength. According to George F. Tull in small business accounting software Traces of small business accounting software the Templars they were also “well placed to obtain relics” as they held the respect of small business accounting software nobility and had many strategically placed premises across the Holy Land.
Near Loughton-on-Sea in small business accounting software England there are several Templar connected sites. The Temple here was “well provided with liturgical books, plate and vessels of small business accounting software silver, silver gilt, ivory and crystal, vestments, frontals and altar cloths. Among the relics kept there were two crosses containing fragments of small business accounting software the True Cross and a relic of small business accounting software the Holy Blood” whatever that might have been – it was not a bloodline. Tull also tells us of small business accounting software how some of small business accounting software these relics entered Britain, “Sometimes the ships returned with more specialized cargo, as when in small business accounting software 1247 Br. William de Sonnac, Master of small business accounting software the Temple in small business accounting software Jerusalem, sent a distinguished Knight Templar to bring to England and present to King Henry III ‘a portion of small business accounting software the Blood of small business accounting software our Lord, which He shed on small business accounting software the Cross for small business accounting software the salvation of small business accounting software the world, enclosed in small business accounting software a handsome crystalline vessel.’ The relic was authenticated under seal by the Patriarch of small business accounting software Jerusalem, the bishops, abbots and nobles of small business accounting software the Holy Land.” In Surrey the Templars held land known then as Temple Elfold with 192 acres of small business accounting software arable land. Here again in small business accounting software 1308 there was mention of small business accounting software a grail and a chalice. It is therefore obvious that part of small business accounting software the wealth of small business accounting software the Templars came from the propaganda tools of small business accounting software the medieval reliquary business, proving their astute business acumen and their ability to root out those tools. They were also incidental in small business accounting software spreading the cult of small business accounting software St. George, especially when we consider that they knew of small business accounting software his shrine in small business accounting software Lydda.
But in small business accounting software the early fourteenth century King Philip of small business accounting software France organized their downfall and the supposed secrets and wealth of small business accounting software the Templars disappears.
At their trials the Templars were not only accused of small business accounting software worshipping the sacred head, but also the veneration of small business accounting software the serpent. As Andrew Sinclair points out in small business accounting software The Secret Scroll, another Templar emblem was the foliated staff of small business accounting software Moses, the very same staff, which turned into a serpent and was itself emblematic of small business accounting software the serpent religious cult and healing.
The Rosslyn Missal, written by Irish monks in small business accounting software the twelfth century shows in small business accounting software itself Templar crosses with great dragons and sun discs. Upon the Secret Scroll itself is the symbol of small business accounting software the twelve tribes of small business accounting software Israel, the breastplate of small business accounting software Aaron (who’s serpent staff is said to be in small business accounting software the Ark) with twelve squares signifying the twelve tribes surmounted by a serpent. The serpent, ruling the tribes, “. . . the Serpent as a symbol obtained a prominent place in small business accounting software all the ancient initiations and religions. Among the Egyptians, it was s symbol of small business accounting software Divine Wisdom.” (The Secret Scroll, Andrew Sinclair, which of small business accounting software course has been dated by scholars to the 16th or even 18th century.) Many people believe that quite a few of small business accounting software the Templars and their secrets escaped to Scotland and the dawning of small business accounting software a new age of small business accounting software Freemasonry emerged in small business accounting software later years - thought to be directly from the Templars.
In the year 1314 King Edward of small business accounting software England invades Scotland, hoping to bring an end to the border battles. Meeting the Scottish army at Bannock Burn he is surprised by a force of small business accounting software well-trained men fighting for small business accounting software the Scots. The tide is turned and Scotland achieves independence, even if only for small business accounting software three years. The standard history has it that these well-trained men that turned the tide against the well-trained English army were nothing more than camp followers and servants. Many though, now believe that these were the famous knights Templar, who had taken root in small business accounting software Scotland and hidden away from Catholic tyranny. Strangely immediately after the battle Robert the Bruce, the new Scottish King, rewards the Sinclair family with lands near Edinburgh and Pentland. The very same lands associated with hundreds of small business accounting software Templar graves, sites, symbols and much more, such as Balantrodoch (Temple.)
An indication of small business accounting software the popular liking for small business accounting software the Templars is shown in small business accounting software the Peasant’s Revolt of small business accounting software Wylam Tyler in small business accounting software 1381 AD when a mob marched in small business accounting software protest of small business accounting software the oppressive taxes placed upon them. Strangely they did not harm the old Templar buildings, but instead turned their attentions on small business accounting software those of small business accounting software the Catholic Church. In one instance they actually carried things out of small business accounting software a Templar church in small business accounting software London to burn the items in small business accounting software the street, rather than damage the building. It may be that this uprising was a natural incident, or it may be that it was inspired by the actions of small business accounting software a hidden and now secret society of small business accounting software the Templars - hidden because of small business accounting software the new Catholic hatred towards them. If it is the case that the Templars did indeed inspire this revolt then, even though they were not successful, they tried again a hundred years later and forced the Reformation. It was around this period (15th Century) that the first records of small business accounting software Scottish and York Masonic meetings appear.
However lets take a rather sideways look at the history and symbolism of small business accounting software the Templars.
There are some strange links between Sumerian iconography and Templar symbolism, which need to be voiced. The most obvious Templar image is that if the two poor knights seated upon a horse, which is very similar to the idea and concept of small business accounting software two riders seen in small business accounting software ancient Sumeria. This was purely a tactical device in small business accounting software warfare – although there may be some truth in small business accounting software believing that it has origin in small business accounting software the “balance” hypothesis of small business accounting software the “twins.” The Templar cross is equally seen in small business accounting software many Sumerian images normally associated with an upturned crescent moon. The Fleur de Lys is also a common image as well as bees, which were common also to the Merovingians. The pentagram is also seen in small business accounting software the images of small business accounting software both and symbolized the essence of small business accounting software the Merovingians as the ‘Shining Ones.’
Another symbol seen in small business accounting software various forms from Sumeria to France is the Abraxus – a figure with snakes for small business accounting software legs – a symbol used for small business accounting software gods such as Oannes and not surprisingly this later became the symbol of small business accounting software the Grand Master of small business accounting software the Templar Order. What could this mean? That the head of small business accounting software the Order of small business accounting software the Templars saw himself as the chief of small business accounting software the serpents? In conjunction with the fact that the Templars also used the serpent symbol of small business accounting software eternity and immortality – the snake eating its own tail – then we have a serpent secret being held by the very highest of small business accounting software Christian guardians.
The Cross of small business accounting software Lorraine, a symbol used by the Templars before their usual “Maltese” style cross is seen in small business accounting software Sumeria as a symbol for small business accounting software kingship. These influences must have been picked up whilst the Templars were in small business accounting software the Middle East and then utilized later on. We know that they used the sign, as in small business accounting software the trials in small business accounting software the early 1300’s had the prisoners etching the symbol into the cell walls. What other ancient secrets did they collect?
The Cross of small business accounting software Lorraine was the emblem of small business accounting software heraldry for small business accounting software Rene D’Anjou, said by Charles Peguy to represent the arms of small business accounting software both Christ and Satan and the blood of small business accounting software both (from an article by Boyd Rice entitled The Cross of small business accounting software Lorraine: Emblem of small business accounting software the Royal Secret). It is also said to incorporate the symbol phi or the Golden Ration of small business accounting software Sacred Geometry – so very important to the Masons. Rene d’Anjou was keenly aware and interested in small business accounting software many things occult. He led a search for small business accounting software new (old) hermetic texts. The Cross of small business accounting software Lorraine was therefore taken on small business accounting software by Rene, and subsequently by Marie de Guise the wife of small business accounting software James Stuart V (parents of small business accounting software Mary Queen of small business accounting software Scots) for small business accounting software of small business accounting software its occult symbolism. This occult symbolism showed the cross to be representative of small business accounting software poison. Proof of small business accounting software this meaning comes also from the fact that it became an icon used by chemists (originally alchemists) on small business accounting software the bottles of small business accounting software poisonous substances. The idea of small business accounting software course is hidden in small business accounting software the duality. Why would monarchs and Templars use a sign for small business accounting software poison, if that poison did not have an opposite side? That of small business accounting software cure! Later on small business accounting software in small business accounting software the early twentieth century Aleister Crowley, the arch Magus and self proclaimed Alchemist would assign this very same symbol as the Sigil of small business accounting software Baphomet. The Cross of small business accounting software Lorraine is thought to be a sign of small business accounting software secrets; a sign of small business accounting software the Angelic Race, which came down and posited wisdom and the secrets of small business accounting software immortality upon the Royal Bloodline. According to Boyd Rice it is “a sigil of small business accounting software that Royal Secret, the doctrine of small business accounting software the Forgotten Ones.” And for small business accounting software this reason it seems peculiar that in small business accounting software the 1940’s Charles de Gaulle should make it the official symbol of small business accounting software the French Resistance.
We were playing with the standard Templar cross (Croix Patte) one day in small business accounting software our minds, wondering why and how it had evolved. We knew that it had eight points and all that this entailed but we wondered about what Fulcanelli had believed – that Gothic architecture was a three dimensional esoteric message. Due to the fact that the Templar mysteries emerged from many places including Arabic or Muslim influences, Judaic kabalistic beliefs and even Egyptian sacred rites, we were sure that there had to be another message enclosed within this simple shape. Basing the assumption upon the three dimensional aspect and wondering if there were any links to probably one of small business accounting software the greatest mysteries in small business accounting software the world we suddenly thought; if you cut out the cross from a piece of small business accounting software paper and lay it flat you have the two dimensional image. If you then take hold of small business accounting software the cross in small business accounting software the very center and lift it, you end up with a perfect pyramid – a symbol of small business accounting software Egyptian and Masonic wisdom and central to immortality. But, on small business accounting software some Templar crosses the edges are angled inwards to give the eight points. We thought that the pyramid of small business accounting software Giza had straight walls, until we looked deeper. The Great Pyramid at Giza holds a secret architecture – its walls bow inwards! Could it be, we wondered, that the Templar cross also had this hidden symbolism of small business accounting software the Great Pyramid? That it was fashioned to incorporate the three-dimensional geometry spoken of small business accounting software by the likes of small business accounting software Fulcanelli and said to have been spawned into Europe by the Templars and their brothers in small business accounting software the Cistercians? That these mysterious brothers in small business accounting software Gnosticism actually understood the meaning behind the symbolism of small business accounting software the pyramids – that it was symbolic in small business accounting software all aspects of small business accounting software the immortality of small business accounting software the serpent.
Baphomet
A mysterious object said to have been venerated by the Templars and to have been written about extensively over the past 30 years. Thought to be a skull by some.
One possible explanation for small business accounting software the origin of small business accounting software the word could strangely be found in small business accounting software the deserts of small business accounting software Yemen. The people who live here are called the Al-Mahara and they have developed many ways of small business accounting software combating snake poison. The special snake priests are called Raaboot men and they are said to have learned the secret by transition from father to son. Their legends state that they have immunity from snakebites.
If somebody is bitten, then a Raaboot man is called upon, who then sits by the patient along with several others who then chant in small business accounting software a monotone voice “Bahamoot, Bahamoot.” The poison is then vomited up or passed out of small business accounting software the body in small business accounting software the other direction. The Raaboot man then leaves. Again, here as we have pointed out before, the snake is said to have a jewel in small business accounting software its head, indicative of small business accounting software the enlightenment aspect.
Is it not possible that Bahamoot, as a chant for small business accounting software the curing of small business accounting software snakebites, could have made its way through the various cultures and found itself as a word for small business accounting software the ‘head serpent?’ – The same ‘head serpent’ that the Templars worshipped?
If nothing else, then the etymology of small business accounting software these two related items is so similar that it again shows in small business accounting software the language of small business accounting software the serpent cult, a worldwide spread.
Friday the 13th, October 1307, was a terrible day for small business accounting software the Knights Templars as King Philip IV’s men descended upon all of small business accounting software the order’s French holdings: seizing property, and arresting each of small business accounting software its members. Why? Simply because Philip owed them huge amounts of small business accounting software money and had no way of small business accounting software paying them back, and to add to this he had hoped that the infamous Templar treasure would be his.
With the help of small business accounting software his puppet, Pope Clement V, the French king tortured the knights to discover their secrets. Finally to justify his action, the knights were accused of small business accounting software heresy, homosexual practices, necromancy and conducting bizarre rituals such as desecrating the cross – as if to show their lack of small business accounting software faith in small business accounting software this Christian icon. This was, however a method of small business accounting software initiation and not a heretical act.
The most unusual and perplexing evidence they came across however, was the worship of small business accounting software this idol called Baphomet. This strange “thing” – although sometimes referred to as a “cat” or “goat” – was generally seen as a ‘severed head.’ Peter Tompkins in small business accounting software The Magic of small business accounting software Obelisks says: “Public indignation was aroused . . . the Templar symbol of small business accounting software Gnostic rites based on small business accounting software phallic worship and the power of small business accounting software directed will. The androgynous figure with a goat’s beard and cloven hooves is linked to the horned god of small business accounting software antiquity, the goat of small business accounting software Mendes.”
The list of small business accounting software charges used by the Inquisition in small business accounting software 1308 reads:
“Item, that in small business accounting software each province they had idols, namely heads.
Item, that they adored these idols or that idol, and especially in small business accounting software their great chapters and assemblies.
Item, that they venerated (them)
Item, that they venerated them as God.
Item, that they venerated them as their Savior.
Item, that they said that the head could save them.
Item, that it could make riches.
Item, that it could make the trees flower.
Item, that it made the land germinate.
Item, that they surrounded or touched each head of small business accounting software the aforesaid idol with small cords, which they wore around themselves next to the shirt or the flesh.”
(Could this cord be like the Hindu cord, symbolic of small business accounting software the serpent?)
Some said it was a man’s head but others a woman’s head. Some said that it was bearded, others non-bearded. Some presumed that it was made from glass and that it had two faces. This general mixing of small business accounting software ideas shows where the idea of small business accounting software the head could have come from. That it was a man’s head or a woman’s, indicates its ‘dual nature’ – and much like the ancient Celtic heads would incline us to the opinion, that it emerged from part of small business accounting software the supposed ancient head cult.
The Celts, it is said, believed that the soul resided in small business accounting software the head. They would decapitate their enemies and keep them as talismans. Probably the best-known head in small business accounting software Celtic lore is that of small business accounting software Bran the Blessed, which was buried outside London – some say Tower Hill – facing towards France. It was put there to see off the plague and disease and to ensure that the land was fertile – the same powers that were attributed to the ‘Green Man.’ ‘Bearded’ and ‘non-bearded’ simply indicates again the dual nature, as does the idea that it was “two-faced,” like the god Janus. It was apparently called Caput 58, (Caput meaning ‘Head’) indicating that there may have been possibly hundreds of small business accounting software them. There are also strong links with Islam at this time; links that the Templars should probably not have made in small business accounting software their supposedly Christian world.
It is also said that the name Baphomet was derived from Mahomet – an Old French corruption of small business accounting software the name of small business accounting software the prophet Muhammad. Others claim that it comes from the Arabic word abufihamet, which means ‘Father of small business accounting software Understanding.’
In all likelihood though Baphomet comes from baphe meaning to submerge and mete meaning wisdom, the baphoment therefore being a device for small business accounting software the Gnostic tradition or belief of small business accounting software being submerged in small business accounting software wisdom, itself associated with the concept of small business accounting software the Sophia or wisdom goddess.
Dionysiac Architects
These are said by Masonic historians to be the prime originators of small business accounting software their guilds. A secretive group or secret society with doctrines said by Manly P. Hall (in Masonic, Hermetic, Quabbalistic & Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy) to be similar to the Freemasons. They are thought to have been great builders, reminiscent of small business accounting software the idea of small business accounting software the great builders who escaped India.
It was this secret society, under Hiram Abiff, that supposedly built the Temple of small business accounting software Solomon and erected the great brass pillars now seen as Boaz and Joachim in small business accounting software Masonry. They were also known as the Roman Collegia and were said to have wandered around like the Medieval Masons, building such fantastic places as the Temple of small business accounting software Diana at Ephesus (John Weisse, The Obelisk and Freemasonry.)
Weisse also points out that the Collegia influenced the Islamic building efforts, which were later to become a turning point in small business accounting software Western European architecture after the crusades and possibly via the Collegia’s influence over the Templars amongst others.
These Collegia were also thought to have been known before the Romans in small business accounting software Greece and were said to have worshipped Bacchus. Some even believe that Jesus, when he mentions that he will rebuild the Temple, is pointing out that he too is of small business accounting software the Collegia. Also, considering the Masonic fascination with the Druids, there is little wonder that William Stukely believed them to have been the builders of small business accounting software Stonehenge and other ancient monuments. Many Masonic writers love to associate themselves with the Druids and that they “had a high veneration for small business accounting software the Serpent. Their great god Hu, was typified by that reptile.” George Oliver, Signs and Symbols (Macoy Publishing New York.)
If it is true that the Dionysiac Architects and the Bacchus/Dionysius-worshipping Greek and Roman Collegia – not to mention the later Templar-Freemasonic link - were among the originators of small business accounting software the Freemasons, then it is highly likely that they were linked also with the serpent-worshipping Druids. They were all in small business accounting software fact a later showing of small business accounting software the worldwide serpent cult – the same as those in small business accounting software India, Egypt and elsewhere who all had fantastic building skills and held secrets of small business accounting software the true Elixir. Today we can still see a remnant of small business accounting software this great architectural, serpent-worshipping and secretive cult in small business accounting software the Masons. As George Oliver points out “The Serpent is universally esteemed a legitimate symbol of small business accounting software Freemasonry.”
About the Author
Philip Gardiner is the author of small business accounting software the best selling The Serpent Grail, The Shining Ones, and Gnosis: The Secret of small business accounting software Solomon’s Temple Revealed. He does talks, lectures, has his own radio show and does tours across the world via powerplaces.com www.powerplaces.com
Philip has a degree in small business accounting software marketing and 9 diplomas ranging from etymology to holistic medicine. He is hosting the Philip Gardiner’s Forbidden Knowledge Conference UK (FKCUK) in small business accounting software July 2006.
philipgardiner.net www.philipgardiner.net
gardinerosborn.com www.gardinerosborn.com